Leasehold Conveyancing in Isle of Dogs - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

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Any conveyancing solicitor can theoretically handle your leasehold conveyancing in Isle of Dogs, your mortgage provider may not be willing to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

Isle of Dogs leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only Sixty One years left on my lease in Isle of Dogs. I now wish to extend my lease but my freeholder is absent. What options are available to me?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be extended by the magistrate. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you have used your best endeavours to track down the landlord. For most situations an enquiry agent should be useful to try and locate and to produce a report to be used as proof that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer in relation to devolving into the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court overseeing Isle of Dogs.

Back In 2006, I bought a leasehold house in Isle of Dogs. Conveyancing and Barnsley Building Society mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1997. The conveyancing practitioner in Isle of Dogs who acted for me is not around.What should I do?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of HMLR to be sure that this person is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to instruct a Isle of Dogs conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. You should note that in any event, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

What advice can you give us when it comes to finding a Isle of Dogs conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Isle of Dogs conveyancing firm) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Isle of Dogs conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be helpful:

  • Can they put you in touch with client in Isle of Dogs who can give a testimonial?
  • What are the charges for lease extension conveyancing?

    • Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Isle of Dogs from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Isle of Dogs can be bypassed if you instruct lawyers as soon as your agents start advertising the property and request that they start to put together the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ representatives.
    • The majority freeholders or managing agents in Isle of Dogs charge for providing management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should discover the actual amount of the charges. The management pack can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus reducing delays. The average time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most common reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Isle of Dogs.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s permission? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Isle of Dogs state that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring require a licence issued by the Landlord acquiescing to such changes. Where you fail to have the paperwork to hand do not contact the landlord without contacting your solicitor first.
  • A minority of Isle of Dogs leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, you should place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers put in hand bank and professional references. The bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is able to meet the yearly 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 service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the freehold, you should make sure that you hold the original share certificate. Arranging a re-issued share certificate is often a lengthy process and slows down many a Isle of Dogs home move. If a reissued share is necessary, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (if relevant) for this sooner rather than later.

    • All being well we will complete the disposal of our £250000 garden flat in Isle of Dogs next Tuesday . The landlords agents has quoted £336 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and previous years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Isle of Dogs?

    Isle of Dogs conveyancing on leasehold apartments often involves the buyer’s solicitor sending questions for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to respond to such questions the majority will be content to assist. They may charge a reasonable charge for responding to enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average fee for the paperwork that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some situations it is in excess of £800. The management information fee levied by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of rights and obligations in respect of administration fees, without which the invoice is not strictly payable. In reality one has little option but to pay whatever is demanded if you want to sell the property.

    I have given up trying to reach an agreement for a lease extension in Isle of Dogs. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

    Where there is a absentee freeholder or where there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the relevant legislation it is possible to make an application to the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) to determine the premium.

    An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a Isle of Dogs flat 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 affected 3 flats. The unexpired lease term was 101.61 years.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Isle of Dogs