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

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and 99.9% are in East Barnet - 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 want to rent out my leasehold apartment in East Barnet. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Do I need to ask my freeholder for permission?

Notwithstanding that your previous East Barnet conveyancing solicitor is no longer around you can review your lease to see if it allows you to sublet the apartment. The rule is that if the lease is silent, subletting is permitted. Quite often there is a prerequisite that you need to seek permission from your landlord or other appropriate person in advance of subletting. This means that you cannot sublet in the absence of prior consent. Such consent is not allowed to be unreasonably turned down. If your lease does not allow you to sublet you should ask your landlord for their consent.

I've found a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great price which is making it more attractive. I have just found out that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns buying a house with a leasehold title in East Barnet. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in East Barnet ?

Most houses in East Barnet are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in East Barnet so you should seriously consider looking for a East Barnet conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to transacting on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example obtaining the landlord’spermission to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the upkeep of the estate where the property is located on an estate. Your solicitor should report to you on the legal implications.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in East Barnet. Conveyancing and Barnsley Building Society mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1996. The conveyancing solicitor in East Barnet who previously acted has long since retired.What should I do?

The first thing you should do is contact HMLR to make sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to incur the fees of a East Barnet conveyancing practitioner to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for £3. You should note that in any event, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to appointing a East Barnet conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a East Barnet conveyancing firm) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you talk with two or three firms including non East Barnet conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be helpful:

• How many lease extensions have they completed in East Barnet in the last twenty four months?
• Can they put you in touch with client in East Barnet who can give a testimonial?

After years of negotiations we simply can't agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in East Barnet. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?

if there is a absentee landlord or where there is dispute about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 it is possible to make an application to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to assess the price payable.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a East Barnet residence is 23 Beaconsfield Road in July 2013. The Tribunals decided that the amount payable was £31,203 for the freehold. This case related to 2 flats. The the number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 70.31 years.

East Barnet Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to buying

It would be wise to find out as much as you can regarding the managing agents as they will impact your use and enjoyment of the property. Being a leasehold owner you are frequently in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to practical issues such as the upkeep of the communal areas. You should not be shy to ask prospective neighbours what they think of their service. In conclusion, investigate as to the dates that you are obliged pay the maintenance charge to the managing agents and precisely what you get for your money. How much is the ground rent and service charge?