Experts for Leasehold Conveyancing in Lewes

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Leasehold conveyancing in Lewes is more complex than freehold. Your home move will be smoother where you choose a lawyer with a wealth of experience of leasehold conveyancing in Lewes and next step up in loc. The lawyers we recommend have been approved by your lender so use our search tool to check.

Lewes leasehold conveyancing Example Support Desk Enquiries

I am on look out for some leasehold conveyancing in Lewes. Before I get started I want to be sure as to the remaining lease term.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Lewes - 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.

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

Even though your previous Lewes conveyancing solicitor is not available you can check your lease to see if it allows you to sublet the apartment. The accepted inference is that if the deeds are silent, subletting is allowed. There may be a precondition that you must seek permission via your landlord or some other party in advance of subletting. The net result is you not allowed to sublet without first obtaining consent. Such consent must not not be unreasonably refused ore delayed. If the lease does not allow you to sublet you will need to ask your landlord for their consent.

I own a leasehold house in Lewes. Conveyancing and The Mortgage Works mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the freehold. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1997. The conveyancing practitioner in Lewes who previously acted has long since retired.Do I pay?

The first thing you should do is contact HMLR to be sure that this person is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to incur the fees of a Lewes conveyancing lawyer to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the rightful freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

What advice can you give us when it comes to finding a Lewes conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Lewes conveyancing firm) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggested that you speak with two or three firms including non Lewes conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be of use:

  • What volume of lease extensions have they conducted in Lewes in the last twenty four months?
  • What are the charges for lease extension conveyancing?

    • Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Lewes with the aim of speeding up the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Lewes can be avoided where you get in touch lawyers the minute your agents start marketing the property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ solicitors.
    • The majority landlords or Management Companies in Lewes charge for providing management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should find out the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus reducing delays. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most common reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Lewes.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s permission? In particular have you laid down wooden flooring? Lewes leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or laying down wooden flooring require a licence from the Landlord acquiescing to such changes. If you fail to have the paperwork to hand you should not communicate with the landlord without checking with your lawyer first.
  • Some Lewes leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this applies to your lease, it would be prudent to notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. The bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are financially capable of paying the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their solicitors.
  • If there is a history of any disputes with your freeholder or managing agents it is very important that these are settled before the property is put on the market. The buyers and their solicitors will be nervous about purchasing a flat where there is a current dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and discharge any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to present the dispute as historic as opposed to unresolved.

    • I purchased a garden flat in Lewes, conveyancing formalities finalised 2010. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Equivalent properties in Lewes with an extended lease are worth £218,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 per annum. The lease expires on 21st October 2076

    With 51 years left to run the likely cost is going to span between £34,200 and £39,600 plus costs.

    The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to provide a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. Do not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be taken into account and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you move forward placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Lewes