Recently asked questions relating to East Bedfont leasehold conveyancing
Expecting to complete next month on a garden flat in East Bedfont. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they are sending me a report tomorrow. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?
The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in East Bedfont should include some of the following:
- You should receive a copy of the lease
I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that appears to meet my requirements, at a reasonable figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have just been informed that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in East Bedfont. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been instructed. Will they explain the issues?
The majority of houses in East Bedfont are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in East Bedfont so you should seriously consider shopping around for a East Bedfont 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 leaseholder you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions such as requiring the freeholder’sconsent to carry out changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your lawyer should appraise you on the various issues.
Back In 2006, I bought a leasehold house in East Bedfont. Conveyancing and Nationwide Building Society mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1991. The conveyancing practitioner in East Bedfont who previously acted has long since retired.What should I do?
The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is in fact the new freeholder. It is not necessary to incur the fees of a East Bedfont conveyancing solicitor to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website 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 offer any advice when it comes to choosing a East Bedfont conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?
When appointing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a East Bedfont conveyancing practice) 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 Bedfont conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be of use:
- How experienced is the firm with lease extension legislation?
Do you have any advice for leasehold conveyancing in East Bedfont from the point of view of speeding up the sale process?
- Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in East Bedfont can be bypassed where you get in touch lawyers the minute your agents start marketing the property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the buyers solicitors.
- The majority freeholders or Management Companies in East Bedfont levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack sought as soon as you have a buyer, thus reducing delays. The average time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most frequent reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in East Bedfont.
My wife and I have hit a brick wall in trying to purchase the freehold in East Bedfont. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?
in cases where there is a missing landlord or if there is dispute about the premium for a lease extension, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the LVT to calculate the price payable.
An example of a Lease Extension decision for a East Bedfont property is 147 Redford Close in June 2012. The Tribunal determined the lease extension premium to be at £4,200 This case related to 1 flat. The the unexpired term as at the valuation date was 82.93 years.