I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Leegomery. Before diving in I want to be sure as to the number of years remaining on the lease.

If the lease is registered - and almost all are in Leegomery - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title.For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

Looking forward to complete next month on a studio apartment in Leegomery. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they are sending me a report next week. What should I be looking out for?

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

• Setting out your rights in respect of common areas in the block.E.G., does the lease contain a right of way over a path or hallways?

Are you allowed to have a pet in the flat?

You must be told what constitutes a Nuisance in the lease

Whether your lease has a provision for a sinking fund?

Repair and maintenance of the flat

The landlord’s obligations to repair and maintain the building. It is important that you know who is responsible for the repair and maintenance of every part of the building

What the implications are if you breach a clause of your lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Leegomery please ask your solicitor in ahead of your conveyancing in Leegomery

Last month I purchased a leasehold property in Leegomery. Do I have any liability for 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. 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).

What are your top tips when it comes to appointing a Leegomery conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Leegomery conveyancing practice) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you talk with two or three firms including non Leegomery conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be of use:

• If the firm is not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?

What are the legal fees for lease extension work?

We expect to complete our sale of a £300000 flat in Leegomery next week. The managing agents has quoted £396 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and 3 years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge exorbitant fees for a flat conveyance in Leegomery?

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

• Addressing pre-exchange enquiries
• Where consent is required before sale in Leegomery
• 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 conveyancer will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Leegomery leasehold property is £350. For Leegomery 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 obliged to supply the information.

Leegomery Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Queries before buying

What is the name of the managing agents? You should want to discover as much as possible concerning the managing agents as they will affect your use and enjoyment of the property. As the proprietor of a leasehold property you are frequently in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to day to day issues like the upkeep of the communal areas. Ask other people what they think of them. Finally, find out the dates that you are obliged pay the maintenance charge to the appropriate party and specifically what you get for your money. Be sure to investigate if there are any onerous prohibitions in the lease. For instance it is very common in Leegomery leases that pets are not allowed in in a block in Leegomery. If you like the flatin Leegomery however your cat is not allowed to move with you then you will be faced hard compromise.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Leegomery