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

Examples of recent questions relating to leasehold conveyancing in Colindale

I want to sublet my leasehold flat in Colindale. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Is permission from the freeholder required?

Notwithstanding that your last Colindale conveyancing lawyer is no longer available you can check your lease to see if it allows you to sublet the apartment. The rule is that if the deeds are non-specific, subletting is allowed. There may be a precondition that you must obtain consent via your landlord or other appropriate person in advance of subletting. This means you not allowed to sublet in the absence of first obtaining permission. Such consent is not allowed to be unreasonably refused ore delayed. If the lease prohibits you from letting out the property you will need to ask your landlord if they are willing to waive this restriction.

I am hoping to sign contracts shortly on a leasehold property in Colindale. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they will have a report out to me tomorrow. What should I be looking out for?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Colindale should include some of the following:

  • You should be sent a copy of the lease
  • The total extent of the demise. This will be the flat itself but could also include a roof space or basement if applicable.
  • Are you allowed to have a pet in the flat?
  • Does the lease prevent you from letting out the flat, or working from home
  • Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this is subject to change
  • 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
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat For a comprehensive list of information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Colindale please ask your solicitor in ahead of your conveyancing in Colindale

    • I have just appointed agents to market my garden apartment in Colindale.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just had a half-yearly maintenance charge invoice – Do I pay up?

    It best that you clear the service charge 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 managing agents 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.

    My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Colindale. Conveyancing and Leeds Building Society mortgage went though with no issue. 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 1998. The conveyancing practitioner in Colindale who previously acted has long since retired.Any advice?

    The first thing you should do is make enquiries of HMLR to be sure that this person is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to instruct a Colindale conveyancing solicitor to do this as it can be done on-line for £3. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

    Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Colindale from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Colindale can be reduced where you get in touch lawyers the minute your agents start marketing the property and request that they start to collate the leasehold information which will be required by the buyers conveyancers.
    • The majority freeholders or Management Companies in Colindale charge for supplying management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should find out the actual amount of the charges. The management pack can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most frequent reason for delay in leasehold conveyancing in Colindale.
  • A minority of Colindale leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, it would be prudent to place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers put in hand financial (bank) and professional references. The bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is 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 buyers or their solicitors.
  • If you have had conflict with your landlord or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved before the property is marketed. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a flat where a dispute is unresolved. You may have to bite the bullet and pay 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 ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal details of the dispute to the buyers, but it is clearly preferable to present the dispute as over as opposed to ongoing.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should ensure that you have the original share certificate. Organising a duplicate share certificate is often a lengthy formality and frustrates many a Colindale conveyancing deal. Where a reissued share certificate is required, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this sooner rather than later.

    • I have given up trying to purchase the freehold in Colindale. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?

    Most certainly. We are happy to put you in touch with a Colindale conveyancing firm who can help.

    An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Colindale property is 27B Hillside in February 2010. the resulting premium, all other aspects of the valuation having been agreed between the parties was set at £8,250 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired term was 70.25 years.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Colindale