Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Houghton Le Spring:

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Houghton Le Spring, you will need to appoint a conveyancing solicitor with leasehold experience. Whether your lender is to be Santander, Yorkshire Building Society or NatWest make sure you find a lawyer on their approved list. Feel free to use our search tool

Frequently asked questions relating to Houghton Le Spring leasehold conveyancing

I wish to rent out my leasehold flat in Houghton Le Spring. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Is permission from the freeholder required?

Even though your previous Houghton Le Spring conveyancing solicitor is no longer available you can review your lease to see if you are permitted to let out the premises. The accepted inference is that if the deeds are silent, subletting is allowed. Quite often there is a prerequisite that you need to seek permission via your landlord or other appropriate person in advance of subletting. This means you not allowed to sublet without first obtaining consent. Such consent must not not be unreasonably withheld. If your lease prohibits you from letting out the property you will need to ask your landlord for their consent.

Due to sign contracts shortly on a ground floor flat in Houghton Le Spring. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they report fully within the next couple of days. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Houghton Le Spring should include some of the following:

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • The unexpired lease term You should be advised as what happens when the lease expires, and informed of the importance of the 80 year mark
  • Whether the lease restricts you from subletting the property, or having a home office for business
  • Whether your lease has a provision for a reserve fund?
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your property and do you know what it means in practice? For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Houghton Le Spring please ask your conveyancer in advance of your conveyancing in Houghton Le Spring

    • I own a leasehold house in Houghton Le Spring. Conveyancing and The Royal Bank of Scotland mortgage went though with no issue. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1993. The conveyancing practitioner in Houghton Le Spring who previously acted has long since retired.Any advice?

    First make enquiries of HMLR to be sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. It is not necessary to instruct a Houghton Le Spring conveyancing lawyer to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for a few pound. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

    What advice can you give us when it comes to finding a Houghton Le Spring conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?

    If you are instructing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Houghton Le Spring conveyancing firm) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you talk with two or three firms including non Houghton Le Spring conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions might be useful:

    • If they are not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?
  • What are the costs for lease extension work?

    • Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Houghton Le Spring from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Houghton Le Spring can be bypassed if you get in touch lawyers the minute you market your property and request that they start to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ solicitors.
    • Many freeholders or Management Companies in Houghton Le Spring levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should find out the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most common reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Houghton Le Spring.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s approval? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Houghton Le Spring state that internal structural changes or laying down wooden flooring require a licence issued by the Landlord acquiescing to such changes. Where you fail to have the approvals in place do not contact the landlord without contacting your conveyancer first.
  • A minority of Houghton Le Spring leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this applies to your lease, you should notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. Any bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is financially capable of paying the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their solicitors.
  • You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but it would be advisable verify this via your solicitors. A purchaser's lawyer will be unlikely to recommend their client to to exchange contracts if the lease term is under 80 years. In the circumstances it is important at an early stage that you consider whether the lease for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

    • Houghton Le Spring Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries before buying

      In the main the outlay for major works are not incorporated into the maintenance charges, although a few managing agents in Houghton Le Spring ask tenants to pay into a reserve fund and this is used to offset against larger works. How much is the ground rent and service charge? Is the freehold owned jointly by the leaseholders?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Houghton Le Spring