Top Five Questions relating to Marylebone leasehold conveyancing
Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Marylebone. Before diving in I would like to find out the unexpired term of the lease.
Assuming the lease is registered - and most are in Marylebone - 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.
I have recently realised that I have 68 years left on my lease in Marylebone. I need to get lease extension but my landlord is absent. What should I do?
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 an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be lengthened by the magistrate. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to find the landlord. In some cases an enquiry agent should be useful to carry out a search and prepare a report to be used as proof that the freeholder can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer in relation to investigating the landlord’s absence and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Marylebone.
Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my 2 bed flat in Marylebone.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just received a quarterly maintenance charge demand – what should I do?
The sensible thing to do is clear 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.
My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Marylebone. Conveyancing and Santander mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1993. The conveyancing solicitor in Marylebone who acted for me is not around.Do I pay?
The first thing you should do is contact HMLR to be sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is in fact the new freeholder. There is no need to instruct a Marylebone conveyancing firm to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for a few pound. You should note that in any event, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.
Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on our sale of a £450000 maisonette in Marylebone in 8 days. The landlords agents has quoted £336 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and previous years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge an administration fee for a leasehold conveyance in Marylebone?
Marylebone conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes often involves the buyer’s solicitor sending enquiries for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is not legally bound to address such questions most will be willing to do so. They are at liberty levy a reasonable administration fee for answering questions or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average fee for the information that you are referring to is £350, in some situations it is above £800. The management information fee invoiced by the landlord must be sent together with a synopsis of rights and obligations in relation to administration fees, otherwise the charge is technically not due. In reality you have little choice but to pay whatever is demanded should you wish to exchange contracts with the buyer.
I have given up trying to purchase the freehold in Marylebone. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?
Most certainly. We can put you in touch with a Marylebone conveyancing firm who can help.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Marylebone property is Flats 37 & 39 88/90 Portland Place in December 2010. The Tribunal determined that the premium payable for the lease extensions in respect of these two flats is as follows:- For Flat 37, the sum of £385,230.00 For Flat 39, the sum of £436,780.00 This case affected 2 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 24.02 years.
Other Topics