Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 62 years left on my flat in Leigh On Sea. I now wish to extend my lease but my freeholder is missing. What options are available to me?

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 an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be granted an extra 90 years by the Court. You will be obliged to prove that you have used your best endeavours to locate the landlord. In some cases a specialist would be helpful to carry out a search and to produce an expert document to be used as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a solicitor in relation to devolving into the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Leigh On Sea.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to be perfect, at a great price which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently been informed that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Leigh On Sea. Conveyancing advisers have are about to be instructed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Leigh On Sea ?

The majority of houses in Leigh On Sea are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Leigh On Sea in which case you should be looking for a Leigh On Sea conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in dealing with leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions such as requiring the freeholder’spermission to carry out alterations. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your lawyer will advise you fully on all the issues.

I own a leasehold flat in Leigh On Sea. Conveyancing and Skipton Building Society mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the freehold. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing solicitor in Leigh On Sea who acted for me is not around.Any advice?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that this person is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. You do not need to incur the fees of a Leigh On Sea conveyancing firm to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for £3. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

I am employed by a reputable estate agency in Leigh On Sea where we see a few flat sales jeopardised as a result of leases having less than 80 years remaining. I have received inconsistent advice from local Leigh On Sea conveyancing firms. Can you clarify whether the owner of a flat can initiate the lease extension formalities for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

Provided that 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. The benefit of this is that the proposed purchaser need not have to sit tight for 2 years to extend their lease. 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 sale.

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 buyer.

What are your top tips when it comes to appointing a Leigh On Sea conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

If you are instructing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Leigh On Sea conveyancing firm) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Leigh On Sea 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?

Leigh On Sea Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Queries before buying

How many years are left on the lease? On the whole the cost for major works are not wrapped into the service charges, although a few managing agents in Leigh On Sea obliged tenants to pay into a sinking fund created for the specific intention of establishing a fund for major repairs or maintenance. You should want to find out as much as possible regarding the managing agents as they will either make your life much easier or problematic. Being a leasehold owner you will be in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to every day matters such as the tidiness of the communal areas. Ask prospective neighbours if they are happy with them. In conclusion, be sure you understand the dates that the maintenance charges are due to the relevant party and precisely what it includes.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Leigh On Sea