I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Coulsdon. Before I get started I require certainty as to the unexpired term of the lease.

If the lease is registered - and almost all are in Coulsdon - 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.

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 62 years remaining on my lease in Coulsdon. I now wish to get lease extension but my freeholder is absent. What are my options?

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 for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be granted an extra 90 years by the Court. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you have used your best endeavours to track down the lessor. In some cases an enquiry agent would be helpful to carry out a search and prepare an expert document to be used as evidence that the landlord is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a conveyancer in relation to investigating the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Coulsdon.

I've found a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a reasonable price which is making it more attractive. I have since been informed that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are issues buying a leasehold house in Coulsdon. Conveyancing solicitors have not yet been instructed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Coulsdon ?

The majority of houses in Coulsdon are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Coulsdon in which case you should be looking for a Coulsdon conveyancing practitioner and check that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions such as requiring the freeholder’spermission to conduct changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is part of an estate. Your lawyer will advise you fully on all the issues.

What advice can you give us when it comes to appointing a Coulsdon conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Coulsdon conveyancing firm) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you talk with two or three firms including non Coulsdon conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions could be of use:

• How familiar is the practice with lease extension legislation?
• Can they put you in touch with client in Coulsdon who can give a testimonial?

Completion in due on the disposal of our £ 500000 flat in Coulsdon in just under a week. The freeholder has quoted £<Macro 'feeRangeWithVAT'> for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and 3 years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Coulsdon?

Coulsdon conveyancing on leasehold flats more often than not requires the buyer’s conveyancer sending questions for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to answer these enquiries the majority will be content to do so. They may invoice a reasonable charge for responding to questions or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average costs for the information that you are referring to is £350, in some cases it is above £800. The administration charge required by the landlord must be accompanied by a summary of entitlements and obligations in respect of administration charges, without which the charge is technically not due. In reality one has no choice but to pay whatever is requested of you should you wish to complete the sale of your home.

Despite our best efforts, we have been unsuccessful in trying to purchase the freehold in Coulsdon. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

if there is a absentee freeholder or where there is disagreement about the premium for a lease extension, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the LVT to judgment on the price payable.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Coulsdon flat is 223 Brighton Road in September 2013. The premium payable for the acquisition freehold of the properties should be £10,934 (Ten thousand,nine hundred and thirty four pounds) This case affected 3 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 75 years.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Coulsdon - Examples of Queries before Purchasing

Most Coulsdon leasehold apartments will incur a service charge for the upkeep of the building levied on behalf of the freeholder. Where you purchase the flat you will have to meet this amount, normally quarterly throughout the year. This can be anything from several hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built blocks. There will also be a ground rent for you to pay annual, this is usually not a exorbitant amount, say around £50-£100 but you should to check it because sometimes it can be prohibitively expensive.