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

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Kings Heath, you will need to chose a conveyancing lawyer with leasehold experience. Whether your lender is to be Santander, RBS or NatWest be sure to choose a lawyer on their panel. Find a Kings Heath conveyancing lawyer with our search tool

Kings Heath leasehold conveyancing Example Support Desk Enquiries

My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Kings Heath. Conveyancing and Birmingham Midshires mortgage went though with no issue. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1998. The conveyancing solicitor in Kings Heath who acted for me is not around.Do I pay?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is in fact the new freeholder. You do not need to instruct a Kings Heath conveyancing solicitor 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 landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

Last month I purchased a leasehold property in Kings Heath. Do I have any liability for service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, 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).

What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Kings Heath conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Kings Heath conveyancing firm) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggested that you speak with two or three firms including non Kings Heath conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions might be useful:

  • How experienced is the firm with lease extension legislation?
  • What volume of lease extensions has the firm conducted in Kings Heath in the last twenty four months?

    • Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Kings Heath with the intention of saving time on the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Kings Heath can be avoided where you get in touch lawyers as soon as your agents start advertising the property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the buyers conveyancers.
    • The majority freeholders or managing agents in Kings Heath 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 sought on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The average time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most frequent cause of delay in leasehold conveyancing in Kings Heath.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s approval? In particular have you laid down wooden flooring? Kings Heath leases often stipulate that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring necessitate a licence from the Landlord acquiescing to such alterations. Should you dont have the consents in place you should not contact the landlord without contacting your lawyer in advance.
  • A minority of Kings Heath leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, you should notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain financial (bank) and professional references. Any bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is able to meet 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 actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers.
  • You believe that you know the number of years remaining on your lease but it would be advisable double-check by asking your solicitors. A buyer’s conveyancer will not be happy to advise their client to proceed with the purchase of a leasehold property the lease term is below 75 years. In the circumstances it is important at an early stage that you identify whether the lease requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your home on the market for sale.

    • What makes a Kings Heath lease unacceptable for security purposes?

    There is nothing unique about leasehold conveyancing in Kings Heath. Most leases is drafted differently and drafting errors can result in certain clauses are missing. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:

    • A provision to repair to or maintain parts of the building
    • A duty to insure the building
    • A provision for the recovery of money spent for the benefit of another party.
    • Service charge per centages that don't add up correctly leaving a shortfall

    You may encounter a problem when selling your property if you have a defective lease as they can affect a potential buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage. Birmingham Midshires, Coventry Building Society, and Platform Home Loans Ltd all have very detailed requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. If a mortgage lender believes that the lease is defective they may refuse to provide security, obliging the purchaser to withdraw.

    I invested in buying a 2 bed flat in Kings Heath, conveyancing formalities finalised 2007. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Corresponding flats in Kings Heath with a long lease are worth £248,000. The ground rent is £65 yearly. The lease expires on 21st October 2072

    With just 51 years left to run the likely cost is going to span between £34,200 and £39,600 as well as legals.

    The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to supply the actual costs without more detailed due diligence. You should not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional concerns that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not move forward placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Kings Heath