I would like to let out my leasehold flat in Leagrave and Chalton. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Is permission from the freeholder required?

Even though your last Leagrave and Chalton conveyancing lawyer is not available you can check your lease to check if you are permitted to let out the property. The accepted inference is that if the lease is silent, subletting is allowed. There may be a precondition that you need to seek permission from your landlord or other appropriate person before subletting. This means you not allowed to sublet without prior consent. The consent must not not be unreasonably withheld. If the lease prohibits you from subletting the property you will need to ask your landlord for their consent.

I am hoping to complete next month on a studio apartment in Leagrave and Chalton. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they will have a report out to me within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Leagrave and Chalton should include some of the following:

• You should be sent a copy of the lease

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

An explanation as to the provision in the lease to pay service charges - with regard to both the building, and the more general rights a leaseholder has

The landlord’s rights to access the flat you be made aware that your landlord has rights of access and I know how much notice s/he must provide.

Responsibility for repairing the window frames

What the implications are if you breach a clause of your lease? For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Leagrave and Chalton please ask your lawyer in advance of your conveyancing in Leagrave and Chalton

I have just appointed agents to market my basement flat in Leagrave and Chalton.Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon but I have just received a half-yearly maintenance charge demand – what should I do?

It best that you discharge the invoice as normal because all ground rent and service charges will be apportioned on completion, so you will be reimbursed by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

Last month I purchased a leasehold flat in Leagrave and Chalton. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?

In a situation 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).

All being well we will complete the sale of our £375000 flat in Leagrave and Chalton on Wednesday in a week. The managing agents has quoted £300 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and 3 years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Leagrave and Chalton?

For most leasehold sales in Leagrave and Chalton conveyancing will involve, queries regarding the management of a building inevitably needing to be answered directly by the freeholder or its agent, this includes :

• Answering pre-contract enquiries
• Where consent is required before sale in Leagrave and Chalton
• Copies of the building insurance and schedule
• Deeds of covenant upon sale
• Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your lawyer will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Leagrave and Chalton leasehold property is £350. For Leagrave and Chalton conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are required to supply answers.

Leagrave and Chalton Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Questions you should ask Prior to buying

Its a good idea to discover as much as you can about the managing agents as they can either make living at the property much simpler or uncomfortable. As the proprietor of a leasehold property you are frequently in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to practical matters such as the cleanliness of the communal areas. You should not be afraid to ask prospective neighbours what they think of them. Finally, be sure you discover the dates that the maintenance charges are due to the managing agents and precisely what you get for your money. Does this lease have more than 80 years left? This question is useful as a) areas may cause problems for the building as the communal areas may begin to deteriorate if services are not paid for b) if the leasehold owners have a dispute with the running of the building you will want to have complete disclosure

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Leagrave and Chalton