Experts for Leasehold Conveyancing in Cubitt Town

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Leasehold conveyancing in Cubitt Town 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 Cubitt Town and across next step up in loc. The lawyers we recommend have been approved by your lender so use our search tool to check.

Common questions relating to Cubitt Town leasehold conveyancing

Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Cubitt Town. Before I set the wheels in motion I want to be sure as to the unexpired term of the lease.

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

I've found a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have since been informed that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are issues buying a leasehold house in Cubitt Town. Conveyancing advisers have are about to be appointed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in Cubitt Town are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Cubitt Town in which case you should be looking for a Cubitt Town conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a lessee you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the freeholder’sconsent to conduct changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is part of an estate. Your conveyancer should appraise you on the various issues.

Last month I purchased a leasehold flat in Cubitt Town. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

Can you offer any advice when it comes to finding a Cubitt Town conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Cubitt Town conveyancing practice) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggested that you talk with two or three firms including non Cubitt Town conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be of use:

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

    • Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Cubitt Town with the intention of saving time on the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Cubitt Town can be reduced if you instruct lawyers as soon as your agents start marketing the property and request that they start to put together the leasehold documentation which will be required by the buyers representatives.
    • The majority freeholders or Management Companies in Cubitt Town charge for providing management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should find out the actual amount of the charges. The management pack sought on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The average time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most usual cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Cubitt Town.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s approval? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Cubitt Town state that internal structural changes or installing wooden flooring calls for a licence issued by the Landlord acquiescing to such alterations. Where you dont have the approvals in place you should not communicate with the landlord without checking with your conveyancer in the first instance.
  • If you have had conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are settled before the property is marketed. The buyers and their solicitors will be concerned about purchasing a property where a dispute is unresolved. You may need to swallow your pride and discharge any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to completion of the sale. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose details of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to present the dispute as historic as opposed to unsettled.
  • If you hold a share in a the freehold, you should ensure that you hold the original share document. Arranging a re-issued share certificate can be a lengthy formality and slows down many a Cubitt Town conveyancing transaction. Where a duplicate share is needed, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (if relevant) for this at the earliest opportunity.

    • After years of correspondence we cannot agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Cubitt Town. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?

    Where there is a missing freeholder or if there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant legislation you can apply to the LVT to assess the premium.

    An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a Cubitt Town residence is 12, 14 & 16 Hull Close in May 2010. the Tribunal determined that the premium payable for the acquisition of the freehold to the subject premises was the sum of £18,300 This case related to 3 flats. The the number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 101.61 years.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Cubitt Town