I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in North Ferriby. Before I get started I would like to find out the unexpired term of the lease.

If the lease is recorded at the land registry - and almost all are in North Ferriby - 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 would like to sublet my leasehold apartment in North Ferriby. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask him. Is permission from the freeholder required?

Notwithstanding that your previous North Ferriby conveyancing solicitor is not around you can review your lease to see if you are permitted to let out the premises. The accepted inference is that if the deeds are non-specific, subletting is allowed. Quite often there is a prerequisite that you must seek consent via your landlord or some other party in advance of subletting. The net result is you not allowed to sublet without prior permission. Such consent must not not be unreasonably refused ore delayed. If your lease does not allow you to sublet you will need to ask your landlord for their consent.

I've recently bought a leasehold flat in North Ferriby. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before my ownership?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, 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 North Ferriby conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a North Ferriby conveyancing firm) it is imperative that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you talk with two or three firms including non North Ferriby conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions could be of use:

• How familiar is the firm with lease extension legislation?

Completion in due on our sale of a £325000 garden flat in North Ferriby next Wednesday . The freeholder has quoted £324 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and previous years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in North Ferriby?

North Ferriby conveyancing on leasehold apartments often involves the buyer’s solicitor submitting questions for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is not legally bound to address such questions the majority will be willing to do so. They may levy a reasonable charge for answering questions or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average fee for the paperwork that you are referring to is £350, in some situations it is in excess of £800. The administration charge demanded by the landlord must be accompanied by a summary of entitlements and obligations in relation to administration charges, otherwise the charge is not strictly payable. In reality you have no choice but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to exchange contracts with the buyer.

North Ferriby Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

How much is the ground rent and service charge? You should want to find out as much as you can concerning the company managing the building as they will either make living at the property much easier or much more difficult. Being a leasehold owner you are often in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to day to day matters like the upkeep of the communal areas. Enquire of other people what they think of them. In conclusion, investigate as to the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the managing agents and specifically what it includes. How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their maintenance charge payments?

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in North Ferriby