Recently asked questions relating to Kirkby Stephen leasehold conveyancing
I want to sublet my leasehold flat in Kirkby Stephen. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask him. Do I need to ask my freeholder for permission?
A small minority of properties in Kirkby Stephen 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 see references. Experience dictates 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 consent.
There are only Seventy years unexpired on my lease in Kirkby Stephen. I am keen to get lease extension but my landlord is can not be found. What options are available to me?
If 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 an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be lengthened by the magistrate. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have made all reasonable attempts to locate the lessor. In some cases an enquiry agent may be useful to carry out a search and to produce an expert document which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the freeholder can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a conveyancer in relation to investigating the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Kirkby Stephen.
I own a leasehold house in Kirkby Stephen. Conveyancing and Barclays mortgage organised. 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 solicitor in Kirkby Stephen who previously acted has now retired.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. It is not necessary to instruct a Kirkby Stephen conveyancing solicitor to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for less than a fiver. You should note that in any event, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.
I am employed by a long established estate agency in Kirkby Stephen where we have experienced a few leasehold sales jeopardised due to leases having less than 80 years remaining. I have been given conflicting advice from local Kirkby Stephen conveyancing solicitors. Can you confirm whether the owner of a flat can commence the lease extension process for the purchaser on completion of the sale?
As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to commence the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the buyer need not have to sit tight for 2 years for a lease extension. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment needs to be completed prior to, or at the same time as completion of the disposal of the property.
Alternatively, it may be possible to agree the lease extension with the freeholder either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the purchaser.
Do you have any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Kirkby Stephen from the perspective of saving time on the sale process?
- Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Kirkby Stephen can be avoided where you instruct lawyers as soon as you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation which will be required by the buyers lawyers.
- The majority landlords or managing agents in Kirkby Stephen levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should discover the fee that they propose to charge. The management information can be applied for 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 common cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Kirkby Stephen.
Kirkby Stephen Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should consider Prior to buying
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Be sure to find out if the the lease includes any unreasonable restrictions in the lease. For instance it is fairly common in Kirkby Stephen leases that pets are not permitted in in a block in Kirkby Stephen. If you love the flatin Kirkby Stephen but your cat is not allowed to live with you then you have a very hard determination.
Please tell me if there are any major works on the horizon that will increase the maintenance fees?
Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge payments?
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