Marston Moretaine leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s
Looking forward to exchange soon on a leasehold property in Marston Moretaine. Conveyancing lawyers have said that they will have a report out to me tomorrow. What should I be looking out for?
The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Marston Moretaine should include some of the following:
- How long the lease is You should be advised as what happens when the lease ends, and aware of the importance of the 80 year mark
Back In 2007, I bought a leasehold house in Marston Moretaine. Conveyancing and HSBC Bank mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1991. The conveyancing solicitor in Marston Moretaine who acted for me is not around.Do I pay?
The first thing you should do is make enquiries of HMLR to make sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. You do not need to instruct a Marston Moretaine conveyancing practitioner to do this as it can be done on-line for a few pound. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.
I am attracted to a couple of flats in Marston Moretaine both have in the region of forty five years unexpired on the lease term. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?
There is no doubt about it. A leasehold flat in Marston Moretaine is a wasting asset as a result of the shortening lease. The closer the lease gets to its expiry date, the more it adversely affects the salability of the premises. The majority of buyers and mortgage companies, leases with less than 75 years become less and less marketable. On a more upbeat note, leaseholders can extend their leases by serving a Section 42 Notice. One stipulation is that they must have owned the property for two years (unlike a Section 13 notice for purchasing the freehold, when leaseholders can participate from day one of ownership). When successful, they will have the right to an extension of 90 years to the current term and ground rent is effectively reduced to zero. Before moving forward with a purchase of premises with a short lease term remaining you should talk to a solicitor specialising in lease extensions and leasehold enfranchisement. We are are happy to put you in touch with Marston Moretaine conveyancing experts who will explain the options available to you during an initial telephone conversation free of charge. More often than not it is possible to negotiate informally with the freeholder to extend the lease You may find he or she is happy to negotiate informally and willing to consider your offer straight off, without having to involve anyone else. This will save you time and money and it could help you reach a lower price on the lease. You need to ensure that any new terms represent good long-term value compared with the standard benefits of the Section 42 Notice and that onerous clauses are not inserted into any redrafting of the lease.
What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a Marston Moretaine conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?
When appointing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Marston Moretaine conveyancing practice) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you speak with two or three firms including non Marston Moretaine conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be helpful:
- How experienced is the firm with lease extension legislation?
When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Marston Moretaine what are the most frequent lease problems?
Leasehold conveyancing in Marston Moretaine is not unique. Most leases are individual and drafting errors can sometimes mean that certain sections are wrong. For example, if your lease is missing any of the following, it could be defective:
- A provision to repair to or maintain elements of the building
- Insurance obligations
- A provision for the recovery of money spent for the benefit of another party.
- Service charge per centages that don't add up correctly leaving a shortfall
A defective lease will likely cause issues when trying to sell a property primarily because it impacts on the ability to obtain a mortgage on the property. National Westminster Bank, Leeds Building Society, and Barclays Direct all have express conveyancing instructions when it comes to what is expected in a lease. If a mortgage lender believes that the lease is problematic they may refuse to provide security, obliging the buyer to withdraw.
Marston Moretaine Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Questions you should ask before buying
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Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge payments?
Is the freehold reversion owned jointly by the leaseholders?
It would be prudent to discover as much as you can regarding the managing agents as they can either make life much simpler or uncomfortable. As the owner of a leasehold property you are often in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to practical issues such as the upkeep of the communal areas. Ask other people whether they are happy with their service. Finally, find out the dates that the maintenance fees are due to the managing agents and precisely what you get for your money.
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