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

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While any conveyancing practice can theoretically deal with your leasehold conveyancing in West Harrow, your mortgage provider may not be willing to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

West Harrow leasehold conveyancing Example Support Desk Enquiries

Planning to exchange soon on a leasehold property in West Harrow. Conveyancing lawyers have said 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 Harrow should include some of the following:

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • The total extent of the demise. This will be the apartment itself but could also include a roof space or basement if appropriate.
  • Whether the lease restricts you from renting out the property, or working from home
  • Repair and maintenance of the flat
  • 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
  • Responsibility for repairing the window frames
  • What options are open to you if a neighbour breach a clause of their lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in West Harrow please enquire of your solicitor in advance of your conveyancing in West Harrow

    • I have just started marketing my 2 bed flat in West Harrow.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just had a quarterly service charge invoice – what should I do?

    The sensible thing to do is discharge 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 until 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 work for a reputable estate agency in West Harrow where we see a few flat sales derailed as a result of short leases. I have received conflicting advice from local West Harrow conveyancing firms. Can you clarify whether the owner of a flat can start the lease extension formalities for the buyer?

    As long as the seller has owned the lease for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to start the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the buyer can avoid having to wait 2 years for a lease extension. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done before, or simultaneously with completion of the sale.

    Alternatively, it may be possible to extend the lease informally by agreement with the landlord either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the buyer.

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

    When appointing a solicitor for your lease extension (regardless if they are a West Harrow conveyancing practice) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you talk with several firms including non West Harrow conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be useful:

    • What volume of lease extensions have they completed in West Harrow in the last year?
  • What are the charges for lease extension conveyancing?

    • Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in West Harrow from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

    • Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in West Harrow can be reduced if you appoint lawyers as soon as you market your property and ask them to put together the leasehold information needed by the buyers conveyancers.
    • The majority freeholders or managing agents in West Harrow levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the actual amount of the charges. The management pack sought as soon as you have a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The typical amount of time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most usual reason for delay in leasehold conveyancing in West Harrow.
  • If you have carried out any alterations to the property would they have required Landlord’s permission? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? Most leases in West Harrow state that internal structural alterations or installing wooden flooring calls for a licence from the Landlord approving such changes. Where you dont have the paperwork to hand do not communicate with the landlord without checking with your conveyancer first.
  • Some West Harrow 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 service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their solicitors.
  • You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but it would be advisable double-check via your solicitors. A purchaser's conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to where the lease term is under 80 years. In the circumstances it is essential at an as soon as possible that you consider whether the lease for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your home on the market for sale.

    • I have attempted and failed to negotiate with my landlord to extend my lease without success. Can one apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal? Can you recommend a West Harrow conveyancing firm to represent me?

    You certainly can. We can put you in touch with a West Harrow conveyancing firm who can help.

    An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a West Harrow premises is flat 93b Welldon Crescent in May 2009. The Tribunals valuation for a 90-year lease extension of this fat was £13,171 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The the unexpired residue of the current lease was 75.25 years.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in West Harrow