Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in West Brompton:

Get a Quote

Leasehold conveyancing in West Brompton 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 West Brompton and next step up in loc. The lawyers we recommend have been approved by your lender so use our search tool to check.

Sample questions relating to West Brompton leasehold conveyancing

Planning to sign contracts shortly on a studio apartment in West Brompton. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they report fully next week. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in West Brompton should include some of the following:

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • The physical extent of the demise. This will be the property itself but may incorporate a roof space or cellar if appropriate.
  • Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this is subject to change
  • I don't know whether the lease allows me to alter or improve anything in the flat - you should know whether it applies to all alterations or just structural alteration, and whether consent is required
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice?
  • 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
  • What you can do if a neighbour is in violation of a provision in their lease? For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in West Brompton please ask your solicitor in advance of your conveyancing in West Brompton

    • I've found a house that seems to be perfect, at a reasonable price which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently found out that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns buying a leasehold house in West Brompton. Conveyancing advisers have are about to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

    The majority of houses in West Brompton are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are buying in West Brompton so you should seriously consider looking for a West Brompton conveyancing practitioner and check that they have experience in dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a leaseholder you will not be at liberty 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 maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the estate where the property is part of an estate. Your solicitor will advise you fully on all the issues.

    Back In 2004, I bought a leasehold flat in West Brompton. Conveyancing and Birmingham Midshires mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1996. The conveyancing practitioner in West Brompton who previously acted has long since retired.What should I do?

    The first thing you should do is make enquiries of HMLR to make sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. It is not necessary to incur the fees of a West Brompton conveyancing solicitor 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.

    What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a West Brompton conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

    If you are instructing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a West Brompton conveyancing practice) it is imperative that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you make enquires with several firms including non West Brompton 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 of use:

    • How familiar is the firm with lease extension legislation?
  • What volume of lease extensions have they conducted in West Brompton in the last twenty four months?

    • Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in West Brompton from the perspective of saving time on the sale process?

    • Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in West Brompton can be avoided if you instruct lawyers as soon as your agents start marketing the property and request that they start to put together the leasehold documentation which will be required by the purchasers’ representatives.
    • Some West Brompton leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, it would be prudent to place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers put in hand bank and professional references. The bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is financially capable of paying the annual 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 service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their solicitors.
  • If you have had conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is very important that these are resolved prior to the flat being marketed. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a property where there is an ongoing dispute. You may have to bite the bullet and pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is clearly preferable to reveal the dispute as historic rather than unsettled.
  • If you have the benefit of shareholding in the Management Company, you should make sure that you hold the original share document. Obtaining a re-issued share certificate is often a time consuming formality and delays many a West Brompton conveyancing deal. Where a duplicate share is required, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (where applicable) for this as soon as possible.
  • You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but it would be wise to double-check via your lawyers. A purchaser's lawyer will not be happy to advise their client to where the remaining number of years is under 75 years. In the circumstances it is important at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your home on the market for sale.

    • Despite our best endeavours, we have been unsuccessful in negotiating a lease extension in West Brompton. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?

    Most definitely. We can put you in touch with a West Brompton conveyancing firm who can help.

    An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a West Brompton flat is 5 Wetherby Gardens in June 2014. the Tribunal concluded that the price to be paid for the freehold of the property was £2,369,452. This case affected 5 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 38.98 years.