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

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Leeds, you will need to chose a conveyancing practitioner with leasehold experience. Whether your lender is to be Halifax, Birmingham Midshires or Bradford & Bingley be sure to find a lawyer on their approved list. Find a Leeds conveyancing lawyer with our search tool

Top Five Questions relating to Leeds leasehold conveyancing

I want to rent out my leasehold apartment in Leeds. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask him. Is permission from the freeholder required?

A lease dictates the relationship between the landlord and you the flat owner; in particular, it will set out if subletting is banned, or permitted but only subject to certain caveats. The rule is that if the lease contains no expres ban or restriction, subletting is allowed. Most leases in Leeds do not contain subletting altogether – such a clause would adversely affect the market value the property. In most cases there is simply a requirement that the owner notifies the freeholder, possibly sending a duplicate of the sublease.

I only have Fifty years unexpired on my flat in Leeds. I now wish to extend my lease but my freeholder is can not be found. What should I do?

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 enable the lease to be lengthened by the magistrate. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you have done all that could be expected to track down the freeholder. On the whole an enquiry agent would be helpful to try and locate and to produce a report which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the freeholder can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer both on investigating the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court covering Leeds.

Expecting to complete next month on a leasehold property in Leeds. Conveyancing solicitors have said 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 Leeds should include some of the following:

  • Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, freeholder
  • Do you need to have carpet in the flat or are you allowed wood flooring?
  • Whether the lease restricts you from subletting the property, or working from home
  • 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
  • Whether your lease has a provision for a sinking fund?
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice? For a comprehensive list of information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Leeds please enquire of your conveyancer in ahead of your conveyancing in Leeds

    • I am looking at a couple of maisonettes in Leeds which have about 50 years remaining on the leases. Will this present a problem?

    A lease is a right to use the premises for a period of time. As a lease shortens the saleability of the lease deteriorate and results in it becoming more costly to extend the lease. For this reason it is generally wise to extend the lease term. It is often difficult to sell a property with a short lease because mortgage companies less inclined to grant a loan on properties of this type. Lease extension can be a protracted process. We advise that you get professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this field

    When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Leeds what are the most frequent lease defects?

    Leasehold conveyancing in Leeds is not unique. All leases are unique and drafting errors can result in certain provisions are erroneous. For example, if your lease is missing any of the following, it could be defective:

    • Repairing obligations to or maintain elements of the property
    • Insurance obligations
    • 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

    A defective lease can cause problems when trying to sell a property primarily because it impacts on the ability to obtain a mortgage on the property. Halifax, Skipton Building Society, and Aldermore all have express requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. Where a lender has been advised by their lawyers that the lease does not cover certain provisions they may refuse to provide security, obliging the purchaser to pull out.

    Leeds Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should consider Prior to buying

      How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their service charge payments? The prefered form of lease structure is if the freehold title is owned by the leaseholders. In this scenario the leaseholders benefit from control and even though a managing agent is usually retained if it is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent employed by the leaseholders. Are there any major works in the near future that could add a premium to the service costs?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Leeds