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

Manchester leasehold conveyancing Example Support Desk Enquiries

There are only 72 years unexpired on my flat in Manchester. I need to extend my lease 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 submit an application to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be lengthened by the Court. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you have made all reasonable attempts to track down the freeholder. On the whole a specialist would be useful to conduct investigations and to produce an expert document which can be accepted by the court as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a conveyancer both on proving the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court overseeing Manchester.

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

In a situation 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. A critical element 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).

I am a negotiator for a reputable estate agency in Manchester where we see a few flat sales put at risk as a result of leases having less than 80 years remaining. I have been given contradictory information from local Manchester conveyancing firms. Could you confirm whether the owner of a flat can instigate the lease extension process for the buyer?

As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to commence the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. The benefit of this is that the proposed purchaser can avoid having to wait 2 years to extend their lease. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done prior to, 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.

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

  • Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Manchester can be avoided if you get in touch lawyers as soon as you market your property and ask them to put together the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ conveyancers.
  • Many landlords or Management Companies in Manchester levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should discover the actual amount of the charges. The management pack sought on or before finding a buyer, thus reducing delays. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most common reason for frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Manchester.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s consent? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Manchester state that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring calls for a licence from the Landlord approving such changes. Where you fail to have the consents to hand do not communicate with the landlord without contacting your conveyancer in the first instance.
  • If you hold a share in a the Management Company, you should ensure that you are holding the original share certificate. Arranging a new share certificate is often a time consuming formality and delays many a Manchester home move. If a reissued share is necessary, do contact the company officers 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 you should double-check by asking your lawyers. A buyer’s lawyer will not be happy to advise their client to to exchange contracts if the remaining number of years is below 75 years. In the circumstances it is important 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 property on the market for sale.

    • What makes a Manchester lease problematic?

    Leasehold conveyancing in Manchester is not unique. Most leases are unique and legal mistakes in the legal wording can sometimes mean that certain sections are wrong. The following missing provisions could result in a defective lease:

    • A provision to repair to or maintain elements of the property
    • Insurance obligations
    • A provision for the recovery of money spent for the benefit of another party.
    • Maintenance charge proportions which don’t add up to the correct percentage

    A defective lease will likely cause issues when trying to sell a property as they can affect a potential buyer’s ability to obtain a mortgage. Lloyds TSB Bank, Norwich and Peterborough Building Society, and Nottingham Building Society all have very detailed requirements when it comes to what is expected in a lease. If a mortgage lender believes that the lease is problematic they may refuse to grant the mortgage, forcing the buyer to withdraw.

    Leasehold Conveyancing in Manchester - Sample of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing

      The prefered form of lease structure is a share of the freehold. In this situation the tenants enjoy being in charge if their destiny and although a managing agent is often employed where it is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants. Is anyone aware of any major works on the horizon that could add a premium to the maintenance charges? Best to be warned if window replacement or some other significant cost is due shortly that will be shared amongst the tenants and will dramatically impact the level of the maintenance costs or necessitate a specific invoice.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Manchester