Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Littlehampton:

Get a Quote

While any conveyancing solicitor can theoretically deal with your leasehold conveyancing in Littlehampton, your mortgage provider may not be willing to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

Recently asked questions relating to Littlehampton leasehold conveyancing

I am on look out for some leasehold conveyancing in Littlehampton. Before diving in I require certainty as to the unexpired term of the lease.

If the lease is registered - and almost all are in Littlehampton - then the leasehold title will always include the short particulars 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.

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my garden apartment in Littlehampton.Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon but I have just received a half-yearly service 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 management companies 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

Back In 2005, I bought a leasehold flat in Littlehampton. Conveyancing and HSBC Bank mortgage are in place. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the freehold. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1993. The conveyancing practitioner in Littlehampton who previously acted has long since retired.What should I do?

The first thing you should do is contact HMLR to be sure that this person is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. You do not need to instruct a Littlehampton conveyancing lawyer to do this as it can be done on-line for a few pound. You should note that regardless, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Littlehampton with the intention of expediting the sale process?

  • Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Littlehampton can be avoided if you appoint lawyers the minute you market your property and request that they start to put together the leasehold information needed by the buyers lawyers.
  • The majority freeholders or Management Companies in Littlehampton levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the actual amount of the charges. The management pack can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus reducing delays. The average time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most common cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Littlehampton.
  • Some Littlehampton leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this is the case, 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 able to meet the yearly 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 actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their solicitors.
  • If you have had any disputes with your landlord or managing agents it is very important that these are resolved before the property is marketed. The buyers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a property where there is an ongoing dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and discharge any arrears of service charge or resolve 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 will still have to reveal details of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is clearly preferable to reveal the dispute as historic rather than unresolved.
  • If you hold a share in a the Management Company, you should make sure that you are holding the original share certificate. Arranging a re-issued share certificate is often a time consuming process and frustrates many a Littlehampton home move. Where a reissued share is required, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if relevant) for this at the earliest opportunity.

    • All being well we will complete the disposal of our £250000 flat in Littlehampton next Monday . The management company has quoted £420 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and 3 years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Littlehampton?

    Littlehampton conveyancing on leasehold apartments normally necessitates the purchaser’s conveyancer submitting questions for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to respond to these enquiries most will be content to do so. They may charge a reasonable charge for answering enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average costs for the paperwork that you are referring to is £350, in some cases it exceeds £800. The administration charge demanded by the landlord must be accompanied by a synopsis of entitlements and obligations in respect of administration charges, otherwise the charge is technically not due. Reality however dictates that you have no choice but to pay whatever is demanded if you want to sell the property.

    Leasehold Conveyancing in Littlehampton - Examples of Questions you should ask before buying

      How much is the maintenance charge and ground rent on the property? Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge liability? On the whole the outlay for major works are not included within maintenance charges, albeit that some managing agents in Littlehampton require leasehold owners to contribute towards a reserve fund and this is used to offset against major works.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Littlehampton