Quality lawyers for Leasehold Conveyancing in Harrow Weald

Get a Quote

Looking for a solicitor for leasehold conveyancing in Harrow Weald on your lender’s panel? Make use of our search tool to find quality local Harrow Weald conveyancing lawyers or national solicitors on your lender’s panel .

Common questions relating to Harrow Weald leasehold conveyancing

I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Harrow Weald. Before I get started I require certainty as to the remaining lease term.

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

Looking forward to exchange soon on a leasehold property in Harrow Weald. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they are sending me a report within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?

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

  • You should be sent a copy of the lease
  • Setting out your legal entitlements in respect of common areas in the building.By way of example, does the lease grant a right of way over an accessway or staircase?
  • Are pets allowed in the flat?
  • Whether your lease has a provision for a sinking fund?
  • You should have a good understanding of the insurance provisions
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice? For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Harrow Weald please enquire of your conveyancer in ahead of your conveyancing in Harrow Weald

    • I own a leasehold flat in Harrow Weald. Conveyancing and Santander mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1992. The conveyancing solicitor in Harrow Weald who acted for me is not around.Any advice?

    First make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to instruct a Harrow Weald conveyancing solicitor to do this as it can be done on-line for £3. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the rightful freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

    I've recently bought a leasehold house in Harrow Weald. 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. It is an essential part 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 provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Harrow Weald from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Harrow Weald can be bypassed where you appoint lawyers as soon as you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ lawyers.
    • Many landlords or managing agents in Harrow Weald levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should enquire as to 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 typical amount of time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most frequent cause of delay in leasehold conveyancing in Harrow Weald.
  • Some Harrow Weald leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this is the case, it would be prudent to notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers put in hand financial (bank) and professional references. Any bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are able to meet the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should make sure that you hold the original share certificate. Arranging a replacement share certificate is often a lengthy formality and slows down many a Harrow Weald conveyancing deal. Where a new share is required, do contact the company director and secretary or managing agents (if applicable) for this at the earliest opportunity.
  • You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but you should verify this by asking your solicitors. A purchaser's conveyancer will not be happy to advise their client to where the remaining number of years is below 80 years. It is therefore essential at an as soon as possible that you consider whether the lease term requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

    • I have attempted and failed to negotiate with my landlord for a lease extension without getting anywhere. Can I make an application to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal? Can you recommend a Harrow Weald conveyancing firm to act on my behalf?

    You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Harrow Weald conveyancing firm who can help.

    An example of a Lease Extension case for a Harrow Weald flat is flat 93b Welldon Crescent in May 2009. The Tribunals valuation for a 90-year lease extension of this fat was £13,171 This case affected 1 flat. The the unexpired term as at the valuation date was 75.25 years.