I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Moreton. Before I get started I would like to find out the number of years remaining on the lease.

Assuming the lease is registered - and 99.9% are in Moreton - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title.For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

I want to rent out my leasehold apartment in Moreton. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Do I need to ask my freeholder for permission?

Your lease dictates the relationship between the freeholder and you the flat owner; specifically, it will indicate if subletting is banned, or permitted but only subject to certain conditions. The accepted inference is that if the lease contains no specific ban or restriction, subletting is permitted. The majority of leases in Moreton do not contain subletting altogether – such a clause would undoubtedly devalue the property. In most cases there is simply a requirement that the owner notifies the freeholder, possibly supplying a copy of the sublease.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Moreton. Conveyancing and Halifax mortgage went though with no issue. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the freehold. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1992. The conveyancing practitioner in Moreton who acted for me is not around.Do I pay?

First contact the Land Registry to be sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is in fact the new freeholder. It is not necessary to instruct a Moreton conveyancing firm to do this as it can be done on-line for a few pound. You should note that regardless, even if this is the rightful landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

What are your top tips when it comes to finding a Moreton conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?

If you are instructing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Moreton conveyancing practice) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you talk with two or three firms including non Moreton conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions could be of use:

• How many lease extensions has the firm carried out in Moreton in the last twenty four months?
• Can they put you in touch with client in Moreton who can give a testimonial?

Completion in due on our sale of a £ 375000 maisonette in Moreton in just under a week. The landlords agents has quoted £<Macro 'feeRangeWithVAT'> for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and previous years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a flat conveyance in Moreton?

Moreton conveyancing on leasehold apartments ordinarily necessitates fees being levied by management companies :

• Completing pre-exchange enquiries
• Where consent is required before sale in Moreton
• Supplying insurance information
• Deeds of covenant upon sale
• Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your conveyancer will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Moreton leasehold premises is £350. For Moreton 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 obliged to provide the information.

Moreton Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries Prior to Purchasing

What prohibitions exist in the Moreton Lease? Plenty Moreton leasehold apartments will be liable to pay a service charge for maintenance of the block invoiced on behalf of the landlord. If you purchase the flat you will have to pay this liability, usually in instalments throughout the year. This can vary from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large communal grounds. There will also be a ground rent to be met yearly, ordinarily this is not a exorbitant sum, say around £25-£75 but you need to check it because on occasion it could be many hundreds of pounds. Be sure to find out if the the lease includes any adverse restrictions in the lease. For instance some leases prohibit pets being permitted in certain buildings in Moreton. If you like the apartmentin Moreton but your dog can’t move with you then you have a very difficult choice.