Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my basement apartment in Marple Bridge.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just had a half-yearly maintenance charge demand – Do I pay up?

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 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. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

I today plan to offer on a house that seems to tick a lot of boxes, at a great figure which is making it more attractive. I have just found out that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are issues buying a leasehold house in Marple Bridge. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in Marple Bridge are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in Marple Bridge so you should seriously consider looking for a Marple Bridge conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a tenant you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions such as obtaining the freeholder’spermission to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a service charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your conveyancer will report to you on the legal implications.

Last month I purchased a leasehold property in Marple Bridge. Am I liable to pay service charges relating to a period prior to my ownership?

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).

What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a Marple Bridge conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Marple Bridge conveyancing firm) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We recommend that you talk with two or three firms including non Marple Bridge conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions might be useful:

• How experienced is the firm with lease extension legislation?

If they are not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?

We expect to complete the sale of our £350000 apartment in Marple Bridge on Tuesday in a week. The freeholder has quoted £336 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and previous years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge an administration fee for a leasehold conveyance in Marple Bridge?

Marple Bridge conveyancing on leasehold apartments usually results in fees being raised by freeholders :

• Addressing conveyancing due diligence questions
• Where consent is required before sale in Marple Bridge
• Supplying insurance information
• 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 Marple Bridge leasehold property is £350. For Marple Bridge 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 required to provide the information.

Marple Bridge Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Queries Prior to Purchasing

Plenty Marple Bridge leasehold properties will be liable to pay a service bill for the upkeep of the building invoiced by the landlord. Where you buy the apartment you will have to meet this charge, normally in instalments accross the year. This can vary from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large common grounds. There will also be a rentcharge to be met annual, this is usually not a large amount, say about £25-£75 but you need to enquire as sometimes it can be surprisingly expensive. Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge liability? The answer will be important as a) areas can result in problems in the building as the common areas may begin to deteriorate where repairs remain unpaid b) if the leaseholders have a dispute with the running of the building you will wish to have all the details

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Marple Bridge