Recently asked questions relating to Melbourn leasehold conveyancing
My fiance and I may need to let out our Melbourn garden flat temporarily due to taking a sabbatical. We instructed a Melbourn conveyancing firm in 2003 but they have since shut and we did not think at the time seek any guidance as to whether the lease allows us to sublet. How do we find out?
Notwithstanding that your previous Melbourn conveyancing lawyer is not around you can review your lease to see if you are permitted to let out the premises. The rule is that if the lease is silent, subletting is permitted. Quite often there is a prerequisite that you are obliged to obtain permission via your landlord or other appropriate person in advance of subletting. This means that you cannot sublet in the absence of first obtaining consent. Such consent must not not be unreasonably refused ore delayed. If your lease prohibits you from subletting the property you should ask your landlord if they are willing to waive this restriction.
I have just appointed agents to market my garden flat in Melbourn.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just received a quarterly service charge invoice – Do I pay up?
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 management companies 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 appears to tick a lot of boxes, at a reasonable price which is making it more attractive. I have since found out that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are issues buying a house with a leasehold title in Melbourn. Conveyancing advisers have are about to be appointed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Melbourn ?
Most houses in Melbourn are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Melbourn so you should seriously consider looking for a Melbourn conveyancing practitioner and be sure that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a tenant you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions such as obtaining the landlord’sconsent to carry out alterations. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the property is part of an estate. Your lawyer will advise you fully on all the issues.
My wife and I purchased a leasehold house in Melbourn. Conveyancing and Aldermore mortgage organised. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the freehold. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1992. The conveyancing practitioner in Melbourn who previously acted has now retired.Any advice?
The first thing you should do is contact HMLR to be sure that this person is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. There is no need to incur the fees of a Melbourn conveyancing practitioner to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for a few pound. You should note that in any event, even if this is the rightful freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.
We expect to complete the disposal of our £500000 maisonette in Melbourn in just under a week. The landlords agents has quoted £360 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and 3 years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge an administration fee for a flat conveyance in Melbourn?
Melbourn conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes ordinarily results in administration charges raised by landlords agents :
- Completing pre-contract questions
- Where consent is required before sale in Melbourn
- Supplying insurance information
- Deeds of covenant upon sale
- Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale
Leasehold Conveyancing in Melbourn - Examples of Queries Prior to Purchasing
-
It would be wise to discover as much as you can about the company managing the building as they will impact your use and enjoyment of the property. As the owner of a leasehold property you will be at the mercy of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to daily issues like the tidiness of the communal areas. Enquire of other tenants if they are happy with them. On a final note, be sure you understand the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the managing agents and precisely what you get for your money.
The majority of Melbourn leasehold flats will incur a service bill for the upkeep of the building set on behalf of the management company. Where you acquire the flat you will have to meet this liability, normally quarterly accross the year. This may vary from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built blocks. There will also be a rentcharge for you to pay yearly, ordinarily this is not a exorbitant figure, say around £25-£75 but you need to enquire as on occasion it could be surprisingly expensive.
Are any of leasehold owners in dispute over their service charge payments?
Other Topics