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

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Machen, you will need to chose a conveyancing lawyer with leasehold experience. Whether your mortgage company is to be Santander, RBS or Bradford & Bingley be sure to find a lawyer on their approved list. Find a Machen conveyancing lawyer with our search tool

Frequently asked questions relating to Machen leasehold conveyancing

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 72 years left on my lease in Machen. I need to get lease extension but my freeholder is absent. What options are available to me?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be extended by the Court. You will be obliged to prove that you have used your best endeavours to track down the lessor. On the whole a specialist may be helpful to conduct investigations and prepare an expert document to be accepted by the court as proof that the landlord is indeed missing. It is advisable to get professional help from a conveyancer in relation to proving the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court covering Machen.

Due to complete next month on a garden flat in Machen. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they will have a report out to me next week. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Machen should include some of the following:

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • The unexpired lease term You should be advised as what happens when the lease ends, and aware of the importance of the 80 year mark
  • You need to be told what constitutes a Nuisance in the lease
  • You should have a good understanding of the insurance provisions
  • 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
  • The landlord’s rights to access the flat you be made aware that your landlord has rights of access and I know how much notice s/he must provide.
  • What the implications are if you breach a clause of your lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Machen please ask your lawyer in ahead of your conveyancing in Machen

    • Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my 2 bed apartment in Machen.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just had a quarterly service charge demand – what should I do?

    It best that you clear 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 managing agents 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.

    Last month I purchased a leasehold flat in Machen. Am I liable to pay 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. 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 ensure 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 advice for leasehold conveyancing in Machen with the purpose of saving time on the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Machen can be avoided if you get in touch lawyers as soon as your agents start advertising the property and request that they start to put together the leasehold documentation which will be required by the purchasers’ conveyancers.
    • The majority landlords or Management Companies in Machen charge for supplying management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the fee that they propose to charge. The management information can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The average time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most common reason for delay in leasehold conveyancing in Machen.
  • If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s permission? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Machen state that internal structural changes or installing wooden flooring require a licence issued by the Landlord consenting to such alterations. Where you fail to have the paperwork in place do not communicate with the landlord without checking with your solicitor first.
  • If you hold a share in a the Management Company, you should make sure that you have the original share document. Obtaining a new share certificate can be a time consuming formality and frustrates many a Machen home move. Where a reissued share is required, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (if relevant) for this sooner rather than later.
  • You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but you should double-check by asking your lawyers. A buyer’s lawyer will be unlikely to recommend their client to to exchange contracts if the remaining number of years is under 80 years. In the circumstances it is essential at an early stage that you consider whether the lease term for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

    • Machen Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Queries Prior to Purchasing

      Generally speaking the cost for major works tend not to be included within service charges, albeit that a few managing agents in Machen ask leasehold owners to pay into a reserve fund created for the specific purpose of building a fund for larger repairs or maintenance. Please inform me if there are any major works in the near future that will increase the maintenance charges? It would be prudent to find out as much as you can concerning the company managing the building as they can either make your life much easier or much more difficult. As the owner of a leasehold property you are frequently in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to daily issues like the upkeep of the communal areas. Don't be afraid to ask other tenants whether they are happy with their service. On a final note, be sure you know the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the appropriate party and precisely how they are spending that money.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Machen