Leasehold Conveyancing in Golders Green - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

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

Recently asked questions relating to Golders Green leasehold conveyancing

I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Golders Green. Before I set the wheels in motion I would like to find out the remaining lease term.

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and 99.9% are in Golders Green - 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.

Due to exchange soon on a ground floor flat in Golders Green. Conveyancing solicitors inform me that they report fully next week. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • The physical extent of the property. This will be the property itself but may incorporate a loft or basement if appropriate.
  • Are you allowed to have a pet in the flat?
  • Whether the lease restricts you from letting out the flat, or having a home office for business
  • You must be told what constitutes a Nuisance in the lease
  • 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
  • The landlord’s obligations to repair and maintain the building. It is important that you know who is responsible for the repair and maintenance of every part of the building
  • Responsibility for repairing the window frames For details of the information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Golders Green please enquire of your conveyancer in ahead of your conveyancing in Golders Green

    • I've recently bought a leasehold property in Golders Green. Do I have any liability for service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?

    In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner 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 ensure 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 choosing a Golders Green conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?

    When appointing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Golders Green conveyancing practice) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggested that you make enquires with several firms including non Golders Green conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions could be helpful:

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

    • Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Golders Green from the point of view of speeding up the sale process?

    • Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Golders Green can be reduced where you appoint lawyers as soon as you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ representatives.
    • The majority freeholders or managing agents in Golders Green levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should discover the actual amount of the charges. The management information can be applied for as soon as you have a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The average time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most usual reason for delay in leasehold conveyancing in Golders Green.
  • If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s permission? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Golders Green state that internal structural alterations or laying down wooden flooring calls for a licence issued by the Landlord consenting to such alterations. Where you dont have the consents in place you should not communicate with the landlord without checking with your lawyer first.
  • If you have had conflict with your landlord or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved prior to the flat being put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a property where a dispute is unsettled. You may have to bite the bullet 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 unresolved.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the freehold, you should ensure that you hold the original share certificate. Obtaining a duplicate share certificate is often a time consuming formality and slows down many a Golders Green home move. Where a duplicate share certificate is required, do contact the company director and secretary or managing agents (where applicable) for this as soon as possible.

    • I am the registered owner of a basement flat in Golders Green. Given that I can not reach agreement with the freeholder, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal determine the premium due for the purchase of the freehold?

    You certainly can. We can put you in touch with a Golders Green conveyancing firm who can help.

    An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Golders Green premises is Flat A 372 Cricklewood Lane in January 2013. The Tribunal decided that the premium for the extended lease should be £5,750.00 and that the terms of the new lease should be those set out in annex to the decsion This case affected 1 flat.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Golders Green