Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Selhurst:

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Leasehold conveyancing in Selhurst is more complex than freehold. Your home move will be smoother where you choose a lawyer with a wealth of experience of leasehold conveyancing in Selhurst and throughout next step up in loc. The lawyers we recommend have been approved by your lender so use our search tool to check.

Selhurst leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s

My wife and I may need to rent out our Selhurst ground floor flat for a while due to a career opportunity. We instructed a Selhurst conveyancing firm in 2004 but they have closed and we did not have the foresight to seek any guidance as to whether the lease allows us to sublet. How do we find out?

Notwithstanding that your last Selhurst conveyancing solicitor is not around you can review your lease to check if you are permitted to let out the premises. The rule is that if the lease is silent, subletting is allowed. Quite often there is a prerequisite that you are obliged to seek permission from your landlord or some other party before subletting. The net result is that you cannot sublet without first obtaining consent. Such consent must not not be unreasonably turned down. If the lease prohibits you from subletting the property you will need to ask your landlord for their consent.

Planning to exchange soon on a studio apartment in Selhurst. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they are sending me a report on Monday. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Selhurst should include some of the following:

  • The unexpired lease term You should be advised as what happens when the lease ends, and informed of the importance of not letting the lease term falling below eighty years
  • Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, landlord
  • Setting out your rights in respect of common areas in the block.E.G., does the lease permit a right of way over a path or hallways?
  • Do you need to have carpet in the flat or are you allowed wood flooring?
  • Does the lease prevent you from renting out the property, or having a home office for business
  • Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this is subject to change
  • 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 Selhurst please enquire of your lawyer in advance of your conveyancing in Selhurst

    • Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my garden flat in Selhurst.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just had a quarterly maintenance charge invoice – what should I do?

    The sensible thing to do is clear the invoice 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 managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer unless 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

    I today plan to offer on a house that appears to tick a lot of boxes, at a reasonable price which is making it all the more appealing. I have since been informed that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are issues buying a leasehold house in Selhurst. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been appointed. Will they explain the issues?

    The majority of houses in Selhurst are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Selhurst so you should seriously consider looking for a Selhurst conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to transacting on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a tenant you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions such as obtaining the freeholder’spermission to conduct alterations. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the estate where the house is part of an estate. Your lawyer should appraise you on the various issues.

    Can you offer any advice when it comes to choosing a Selhurst conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

    If you are instructing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Selhurst conveyancing firm) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you make enquires with several firms including non Selhurst conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be helpful:

    • If the firm is not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?
  • What are the legal fees for lease extension work?

    • Having spent years of negotiations we are unable to agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Selhurst. Does the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal have jurisdiction to calculate the appropriate figures?

    Most certainly. We can put you in touch with a Selhurst conveyancing firm who can help.

    An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Selhurst residence is Flats 55, 67 & 70 Melbourne Court Anerley Road in July 2013. The tribunal calculated that the premium for the extended lease at £48,366.00 for at 55, and £88,329.00 for ats 67 and 70 combined. This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired lease term was 26.38 years.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Selhurst