Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Woodside. Before diving in I require certainty as to the unexpired term of the lease.

If the lease is registered - and almost all are in Woodside - then the leasehold title will always include the short particulars 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 hoping to sign contracts shortly on a leasehold property in Woodside. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they are sending me a report next week. What should I be looking out for?

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

• Setting out your legal entitlements in relation to common areas in the building.For instance, does the lease provide for a right of way over a path or staircase?

Whether the lease restricts you from subletting the flat, or having a home office for business

Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this will change in the future

Repair and maintenance of the flat

Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)

Responsibility for repairing the window frames

What the implications are if you breach a clause of your lease? For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Woodside please ask your lawyer in ahead of your conveyancing in Woodside

I have just started marketing my basement flat in Woodside.Conveyancing is yet to be initiated but I have just received a quarterly service charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

It best that you pay the service charge 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 management companies will not acknowledge the buyer unless 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've found a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great figure which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently found out that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a leasehold house in Woodside. Conveyancing solicitors have are soon to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in Woodside are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are purchasing in Woodside in which case you should be shopping around for a Woodside conveyancing practitioner and be sure that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the freeholder’spermission to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a contribution towards the maintenance of the estate where the house is located on an estate. Your lawyer should advise you fully on all the issues.

Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on the sale of our £425000 flat in Woodside next week. The management company has quoted £372 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and 3 years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Woodside?

Woodside conveyancing on leasehold flats normally necessitates administration charges raised by landlords agents :

• Answering pre-exchange questions
• Where consent is required before sale in Woodside
• Copies of the building insurance and schedule
• Deeds of covenant upon sale
• Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your solicitor will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Woodside leasehold property is £350. For Woodside conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are obliged to supply answers.

We have reached the end of our tether in trying to reach an agreement for a lease extension in Woodside. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

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

An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Woodside property is Ground Floor Flat 14 Lodge Road in October 2013. the tribunal held that the price payable for the acquisition of the extended lease of the property should be £12,590 .00 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The the number of years remaining on the existing lease(s) was 69.46 years.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Woodside