Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Woodford:

Get a Quote

Require a conveyancing quote from a solicitor for leasehold conveyancing in Woodford on your lender’s panel? Make use of our search tool to find quality local Woodford conveyancing practitioners or nationwide solicitors on your lender’s panel .

Top Five Questions relating to Woodford leasehold conveyancing

I am on look out for some leasehold conveyancing in Woodford. Before I set the wheels in motion I would like to find out the number of years remaining on the lease.

Assuming the lease is registered - and 99.9% are in Woodford - 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.

I am attracted to a two flats in Woodford which have approximately 50 years unexpired on the leases. Will this present a problem?

There are plenty of short leases in Woodford. The lease is a right to use the property for a prescribed time frame. As a lease gets shorter the value of the lease reduces and results in it becoming more expensive to extend the lease. This is why it is advisable to increase the term of the lease. It is often difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease as mortgage companies may be reluctant to lend money on such properties. Lease extension can be a difficult process. We recommend you seek professional help from a conveyancer and surveyor with experience in this area

I've recently bought a leasehold house in Woodford. Am I liable to pay service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?

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. Strange as it may seem, 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).

Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Woodford with the purpose of expediting the sale process?

  • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Woodford can be avoided where you get in touch lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold information which will be required by the purchasers’ representatives.
  • Many landlords or managing agents in Woodford charge for supplying management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should discover the actual amount of the charges. The management pack sought as soon as you have a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The average time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most frequent cause of delay in leasehold conveyancing in Woodford.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s approval? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Woodford leases often stipulate that internal structural changes or installing wooden flooring require a licence from the Landlord consenting to such changes. Where you dont have the consents to hand do not communicate with the landlord without checking with your solicitor in advance.
  • If you have the benefit of shareholding in the Management Company, you should ensure that you have the original share certificate. Arranging a duplicate share certificate is often a lengthy process and frustrates many a Woodford home move. Where a new share certificate is necessary, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this sooner rather than later.
  • You believe that you know the number of years remaining on your lease but you should verify this via your conveyancers. A buyer’s conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to proceed with the purchase of a leasehold property the remaining number of years is below 75 years. It is therefore important 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.

    • Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on our sale of a £300000 garden flat in Woodford next week. The managing agents has quoted £300 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and 3 years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a flat conveyance in Woodford?

    Woodford conveyancing on leasehold apartments more often than not necessitates the purchaser’s lawyer sending enquiries for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to answer these enquiries the majority will be content to assist. They may charge a reasonable administration fee for responding to enquiries or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average fee for the information that you are referring to is £350, in some transactions it is in excess of £800. The administration charge required by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of rights and obligations in respect of administration charges, otherwise the invoice is not strictly payable. Reality however dictates that one has little choice but to pay whatever is demanded should you wish to sell the property.

    Despite our best endeavours, we have been unsuccessful in trying to purchase the freehold in Woodford. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?

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

    An example of a Freehold Enfranchisement matter before the tribunal for a Woodford flat is 201 & 201a St. Barnabas Road in October 2013. The Tribunal decided that the price to be paid by the Applicants for the freehold interest is £20,071. This case related to 2 flats. The unexpired term was 69.26 years.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Woodford