Leasehold Conveyancing in Teddington - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

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Common questions relating to Teddington leasehold conveyancing

I am intending to sublet my leasehold flat in Teddington. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Is permission from the freeholder required?

Some leases for properties in Teddington do contain a provision to say that subletting is only permitted with prior consent from the landlord. The landlord cannot unreasonably withhold but, in such cases, they would need to see references. Experience suggests 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've recently bought a leasehold property in Teddington. Do I have any liability for service charges for periods before my ownership?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

What advice can you give us when it comes to finding a Teddington conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Teddington conveyancing firm) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Teddington conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be useful:

  • How many lease extensions has the firm conducted in Teddington in the last 12 months?
  • Can they put you in touch with client in Teddington who can give a testimonial?

    • Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Teddington from the point of view of saving time on the sale process?

    • Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Teddington can be avoided if you get in touch lawyers the minute your agents start advertising the property and ask them to collate the leasehold information needed by the buyers representatives.
    • Many freeholders or Management Companies in Teddington charge for providing management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should find out the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack sought 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 common cause of delay in leasehold conveyancing in Teddington.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s consent? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Teddington leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or laying down wooden flooring require a licence issued by the Landlord consenting to such changes. Where you dont have the approvals in place you should not contact the landlord without contacting your solicitor in the first instance.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should make sure that you are holding the original share certificate. Organising a duplicate share certificate can be a time consuming process and slows down many a Teddington home move. If a reissued share certificate is necessary, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if relevant) for this at the earliest opportunity.
  • You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but it would be advisable verify this by asking your conveyancers. A purchaser's lawyer will be unlikely to recommend their client to proceed with the purchase of a leasehold property the remaining number of years is less than 80 years. In the circumstances it is essential at an early stage that you identify whether the lease term for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your premises on the market for sale.

    • After years of negotiations we simply can't agree with our landlord on how much the lease extension should cost for our flat in Teddington. Can we issue an application to the Residential Property Tribunal Service?

    You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Teddington conveyancing firm who can help.

    An example of a Lease Extension case for a Teddington property is Flat D 15 Claremont Gardens in September 2013. TheTribunal determined in accordance with section48 and Schedule13 of the Leasehold Reform,Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 that the premium for the extended lease should be fourteen thousand one hundred and eighty seven pounds (£14,187.00) This case related to 1 flat.

    Are there common problems that you see in leases for Teddington properties?

    There is nothing unique about leasehold conveyancing in Teddington. Most leases are individual and legal mistakes in the legal wording can sometimes mean that certain clauses are wrong. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:

    • Repairing obligations to or maintain parts of the premises
    • A duty to insure the building
    • Clauses dealing with recovering service charges for expenditure on the building or common parts.
    • Maintenance charge proportions which don’t add up to the correct percentage

    You will have a problem when selling your property if you have a defective lease as they can affect a potential buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage. HSBC Bank, Chelsea Building Society, and Godiva Mortgages Ltd all have express requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. If a mortgage lender believes that the lease is problematic they may refuse to provide security, forcing the purchaser to pull out.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Teddington