Leasehold Conveyancing in Huntingdon - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Huntingdon, you will need to instruct a conveyancing practitioner with leasehold experience. Whether your lender is to be Lloyds, RBS or Bradford & Bingley make sure you choose a lawyer on their approved list. Feel free to use our search tool

Huntingdon leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s

I would like to let out my leasehold apartment in Huntingdon. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Do I need to ask my freeholder for their consent?

Some leases for properties in Huntingdon do contain a provision to say that subletting is only allowed with permission. The landlord cannot unreasonably withhold but, in such cases, they would need to review references. Experience suggests that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting permission.

There are only Sixty One years left on my lease in Huntingdon. I need to extend my lease but my landlord is absent. What are my options?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be extended by the Court. However, you will be required to prove that you have done all that could be expected to locate the lessor. On the whole an enquiry agent may be helpful to carry out a search and prepare a report to be used as proof that the freeholder can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a conveyancer both on proving the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court covering Huntingdon.

I am hoping to sign contracts shortly on a ground floor flat in Huntingdon. Conveyancing solicitors inform me that they report fully within the next couple of days. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Huntingdon should include some of the following:

  • You should be sent a copy of the lease
  • Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, freeholder
  • The total extent of the premises. This will be the property itself but could also incorporate a roof space or cellar if appropriate.
  • Are pets allowed in the flat?
  • Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this is subject to change
  • I don't know whether the lease allows me to alter or improve anything in the flat - you should know whether it applies to all alterations or just structural alteration, and whether consent is required
  • Responsibility for repairing the window frames For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Huntingdon please enquire of your conveyancer in ahead of your conveyancing in Huntingdon

  • I've recently bought a leasehold house in Huntingdon. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?

    In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

    If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

    Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Huntingdon with the aim of saving time on the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Huntingdon can be bypassed where you instruct lawyers the minute your agents start marketing the property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation which will be required by the purchasers’ conveyancers.
    • Many landlords or managing agents in Huntingdon levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should discover the actual amount of the charges. The management pack sought as soon as you have a buyer, thus reducing delays. The average time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most usual reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Huntingdon.
  • If you have carried out any alterations to the residence would they have required Landlord’s approval? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Most leases in Huntingdon state that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring necessitate a licence from the Landlord approving such alterations. Should you dont have the paperwork to hand you should not communicate with the landlord without checking with your lawyer in advance.
  • If you have had any disputes with your freeholder or managing agents it is very important that these are settled prior to the flat being marketed. The buyers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a flat where a dispute is unresolved. You may need to swallow your pride and pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose particulars of the dispute to the buyers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as over rather than ongoing.
  • If you have the benefit of shareholding in the Management Company, you should ensure that you are holding the original share document. Obtaining a duplicate share certificate can be a time consuming formality and delays many a Huntingdon home move. Where a duplicate share is necessary, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this as soon as possible.

  • Huntingdon Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Queries Prior to buying

      Generally speaking the cost for major works tend not to be included within service charges, albeit that there some managing agents in Huntingdon obliged leasehold owners to contribute towards a sinking fund created for the specific intention of establishing a fund for larger works. How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their service charge payments? Who is in charge of the block?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Huntingdon