Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only Fifty years remaining on my lease in South Wimbledon. I am keen to get lease extension but my landlord is missing. What are my options?

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 lengthened by the magistrate. You will be obliged to prove that you have used your best endeavours to track down the landlord. On the whole a specialist should be helpful to try and locate and prepare an expert document to be accepted by the court as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on investigating the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court overseeing South Wimbledon.

Looking forward to exchange soon on a basement flat in South Wimbledon. Conveyancing lawyers assured me that they report fully on Monday. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

• Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, freeholder
• Defining your legal entitlements in respect of the communal areas in the building.E.G., does the lease include a right of way over a path or hallways?
• Will you be prohibited or prevented from having pets in the property?
• Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this will change in the future
• Repair and maintenance of the flat
• Responsibility for repairing the window frames

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to be perfect, at a great figure which is making it more attractive. I have just found out that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in South Wimbledon. Conveyancing advisers have are about to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in South Wimbledon are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in South Wimbledon in which case you should be looking for a South Wimbledon conveyancing practitioner and check that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the freeholder’spermission to conduct changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the house is part of an estate. Your lawyer should report to you on the legal implications.

Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in South Wimbledon with the aim of saving time on the sale process?

• Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in South Wimbledon can be avoided where you appoint lawyers the minute you market your property and request that they start to put together the leasehold information which will be required by the purchasers’ solicitors.
• Many landlords or managing agents in South Wimbledon levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should discover the actual amount of the charges. The management information can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most usual reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in South Wimbledon.
• If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s consent? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Most leases in South Wimbledon state that internal structural changes or installing wooden flooring necessitate a licence issued by the Landlord acquiescing to such changes. Should you fail to have the approvals to hand do not contact the landlord without contacting your solicitor first.
• Some South Wimbledon leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this is the case, it would be prudent to place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers obtain financial (bank) and professional references. The bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are financially capable of paying 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 actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their solicitors.
• If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should ensure that you have the original share document. Arranging a duplicate share certificate can be a lengthy formality and delays many a South Wimbledon home move. Where a duplicate share is required, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this as soon as possible.

All being well we will complete the disposal of our £ 450000 garden flat in South Wimbledon in 5 days. The management company has quoted £<Macro 'feeRangeWithVAT'> for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and 3 years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge an administration fee for a leasehold conveyance in South Wimbledon?

South Wimbledon conveyancing on leasehold flats usually requires the buyer’s lawyer sending enquiries for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is not legally bound 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 costs for the information that you are referring to is £350, in some cases it is in excess of £800. The administration charge invoiced by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of entitlements and obligations in respect of administration charges, otherwise the charge is technically not due. In reality one has little option but to pay whatever is requested of you should you wish to complete the sale of your home.

I have attempted and failed to negotiate with my landlord to extend my lease without success. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal decide on such matters? Can you recommend a South Wimbledon conveyancing firm to act on my behalf?

Absolutely. We are happy to put you in touch with a South Wimbledon conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension decision for a South Wimbledon residence is 14 Nutwell Street in January 2014. The premium payable for the acquisition of a new lease of the subject premises was in the sum of £30,523 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The the unexpired residue of the current lease was 62.94 years.

South Wimbledon Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries Prior to buying

Make sure you investigate if there is anything that is prohibited in the lease. By way of example it is reasonably common in South Wimbledon leases that pets are not permitted in in a block in South Wimbledon. If you love the flatin South Wimbledon however your cat is not allowed to move with you then you will be faced difficult choice.