Recently asked questions relating to Mottingham leasehold conveyancing
Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Mottingham. Before I set the wheels in motion I require certainty as to the number of years remaining on the lease.
If the lease is registered - and 99.9% are in Mottingham - 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.
I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to tick a lot of boxes, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have since been informed that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Mottingham. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be instructed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Mottingham ?
The majority of houses in Mottingham are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in Mottingham so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Mottingham conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions for example obtaining the freeholder’spermission to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a contribution towards the maintenance of the estate where the house is located on an estate. Your lawyer should appraise you on the various issues.
My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Mottingham. Conveyancing and Nottingham Building Society mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1991. The conveyancing practitioner in Mottingham who previously acted has long since retired.Do I pay?
First make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is indeed the new freeholder. There is no need to incur the fees of a Mottingham conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line 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.
I am employed by a reputable estate agent office in Mottingham where we see a number of leasehold sales derailed due to leases having less than 80 years remaining. I have been given inconsistent advice from local Mottingham conveyancing firms. Can you clarify whether the seller of a flat can initiate the lease extension formalities for the buyer?
As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to start the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the buyer need not have to sit tight for 2 years to extend their lease. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment needs to be completed prior to, or simultaneously with completion of the disposal of the property.
An alternative approach is to agree the lease extension with the freeholder either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the buyer.
Can you offer any advice when it comes to finding a Mottingham conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?
When appointing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Mottingham conveyancing firm) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We recommend that you talk with several firms including non Mottingham conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be helpful:
- How many lease extensions has the firm carried out in Mottingham in the last year?
I am the leaseholder of a second floor flat in Mottingham. In the absence of agreement between myself and the freeholder, can the Leasehold valuation Tribunal make a decision on the sum payable for a lease extension?
Most definitely. We are happy to put you in touch with a Mottingham conveyancing firm who can help.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Mottingham premises is 49 Woodstock Court Burnt Ash Hill in May 2012. the payment of £64,116 by the leaseholder was the premium which the Tribunal found due for the lease extension in this case. This case affected 1 flat. The the unexpired residue of the current lease was 23.26 years.
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