Guaranteed fixed fees for Leasehold Conveyancing in Kensington

When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Kensington, you will need to instruct a conveyancing solicitor with leasehold experience. Whether your lender is to be Clydesdale , Birmingham Midshires or Nationwide make sure you find a lawyer on their approved list. Find a Kensington conveyancing lawyer with our search tool

Kensington leasehold conveyancing Example Support Desk Enquiries

Expecting to sign contracts shortly on a garden flat in Kensington. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they will have a report out to me on Monday. What should I be looking out for?

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

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • Does the lease prohibit wood flooring?
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • I don't know whether the lease allows me to alter or improve anything in the flat - you should know whether it applies to all alterations or just structural alteration, and whether consent is required
  • The landlord’s rights to access the flat you be made aware that your landlord has rights of access and I know how much notice s/he must provide.
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice?
  • 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 For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Kensington please ask your conveyancer in advance of your conveyancing in Kensington

  • Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my basement apartment in Kensington.Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon but I have just had a yearly maintenance charge invoice – Do I pay up?

    It best that you discharge the service charge as normal because all ground rent and service charges will be apportioned on completion, so you will be reimbursed by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most management companies will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

    Last month I purchased a leasehold house in Kensington. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?

    Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure 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).

    What are your top tips when it comes to appointing a Kensington conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

    If you are instructing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Kensington conveyancing practice) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you talk with several firms including non Kensington conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be useful:

    • What volume of lease extensions has the firm completed in Kensington in the last year?
  • What are the costs for lease extension work?

  • Completion in due on the disposal of our £250000 apartment in Kensington next week. The landlords agents has quoted £324 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and previous years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Kensington?

    Kensington conveyancing on leasehold apartments usually involves fees being invoiced by management companies :

    • Answering pre-contract questions
    • Where consent is required before sale in Kensington
    • Supplying insurance information
    • Deeds of covenant upon sale
    • Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale
    Your solicitor will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Kensington leasehold premises is £350. For Kensington conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are required to supply the information.

    I have tried to negotiate informally with with my landlord for a lease extension without success. Can I make an application to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal? Can you recommend a Kensington conveyancing firm to act on my behalf?

    Absolutely. We can put you in touch with a Kensington conveyancing firm who can help.

    An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Kensington flat is 93 Oakwood Court in June 2010. the LVT determined that the premium to be paid for the new lease was £492,083, This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired term was 37.79 years.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Kensington