Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Surrey Quays. Before I get started I want to be sure as to the unexpired term of the lease.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and most are in Surrey Quays - 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.

My fiance and I may need to rent out our Surrey Quays basement flat for a while due to a career opportunity. We instructed a Surrey Quays conveyancing practice in 2004 but they have closed and we did not have the foresight to get any advice as to whether the lease permits subletting. How do we find out?

A small minority of properties in Surrey Quays do contain a provision to say that subletting is only permitted with prior consent from the landlord. The landlord cannot unreasonably refuse but, in such cases, they would need to review references. Experience dictates that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting permission.

I have recently realised that I have 62 years unexpired on my lease in Surrey Quays. I now wish to extend my lease but my landlord is can not be found. 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 Court. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have made all reasonable attempts to track down the freeholder. For most situations an enquiry agent should be helpful to conduct investigations and to produce an expert document to be used as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a solicitor in relation to investigating the landlord’s disappearance and the application to the County Court covering Surrey Quays.

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to meet my requirements, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently found out that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns purchasing a leasehold house in Surrey Quays. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been instructed. Will they explain the issues?

The majority of houses in Surrey Quays are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are buying in Surrey Quays in which case you should be shopping around for a Surrey Quays conveyancing solicitor and check that they have experience in dealing with 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 to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the freeholder’spermission to conduct alterations. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your conveyancer should advise you fully on all the issues.

What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Surrey Quays conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Surrey Quays conveyancing practice) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you talk with several firms including non Surrey Quays conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions might be of use:

• What volume of lease extensions have they conducted in Surrey Quays in the last year?
• Can they put you in touch with client in Surrey Quays who can give a testimonial?

I have tried to negotiate informally with with my landlord to extend my lease without success. Can a leaseholder make an application to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal? Can you recommend a Surrey Quays conveyancing firm to assist?

Most certainly. We are happy to put you in touch with a Surrey Quays conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement case for a Surrey Quays flat is 12, 14 & 16 Hull Close in May 2010. the Tribunal determined that the premium payable for the acquisition of the freehold to the subject premises was the sum of £18,300 This case was in relation to 3 flats. The unexpired lease term was 101.61 years.

Surrey Quays Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

On the whole the cost for major works tend not to be incorporated into the service charges, although a few managing agents in Surrey Quays obliged tenants to contribute towards a sinking fund created for the specific intention of establishing a fund for major works. How is the lease structured? The majority of Surrey Quays leasehold flats will have a service charge for the upkeep of the building set on behalf of the freeholder. If you buy the flat you will have to meet this contribution, usually in instalments accross the year. This may vary from several hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for bigger purpose-built blocks. There will also be a ground rent to be met annual, normally this is not a exorbitant figure, say approximately £50-£100 but you should to check it because occasionally it could be surprisingly expensive.