Guaranteed fixed fees for Leasehold Conveyancing in Prestbury

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Prestbury, you will need to chose a conveyancing solicitor with leasehold experience. Whether your lender is to be Halifax, RBS or Bradford & Bingley make sure you find a lawyer on their panel. Find a Prestbury conveyancing lawyer with our search tool

Sample questions relating to Prestbury leasehold conveyancing

I am hoping to sign contracts shortly on a garden flat in Prestbury. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they will have a report out to me within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Prestbury should include some of the following:

  • The physical extent of the premises. This will be the property itself but could also incorporate a loft or basement if applicable.
  • Defining your legal entitlements in relation to common areas in the building.E.G., does the lease permit a right of way over a path or staircase?
  • Does the lease prevent you from renting out the property, or having a home office for business
  • Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this is subject to change
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice?
  • What options are open to you if a neighbour breach a clause of their lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Prestbury please enquire of your solicitor in advance of your conveyancing in Prestbury

    • I’m about to sell my basement flat in Prestbury.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just received a yearly service charge demand – Do I pay up?

    Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should 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 am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to tick a lot of boxes, at a reasonable figure which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently been informed that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Prestbury. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been appointed. Will they explain the issues?

    Most houses in Prestbury are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Prestbury in which case you should be shopping around for a Prestbury conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the landlord’spermission to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is part of an estate. Your solicitor should appraise you on the various issues.

    I've recently bought a leasehold house in Prestbury. Do I have any liability for service charges for periods before 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. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure 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).

    Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Prestbury from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

    • Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Prestbury can be bypassed where you instruct lawyers the minute your agents start marketing the property and ask them to put together the leasehold information which will be required by the purchasers’ lawyers.
    • The majority freeholders or Management Companies in Prestbury levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should find out the fee that they propose to charge. The management information sought on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The average time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most usual cause of delay in leasehold conveyancing in Prestbury.
  • If you have carried out any alterations to the premises would they have required Landlord’s consent? In particular have you laid down wooden flooring? Prestbury leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or installing wooden flooring calls for a licence from the Landlord approving such works. If you fail to have the paperwork in place do not contact the landlord without contacting your lawyer in advance.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should ensure that you are holding the original share certificate. Obtaining a duplicate share certificate is often a time consuming process and slows down many a Prestbury home move. If a duplicate share is needed, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this as soon as possible.
  • You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but it would be wise to verify this by asking your conveyancers. A buyer’s lawyer will not be happy to advise their client to where the remaining number of years is less than 75 years. It is therefore essential at an early stage that you consider whether the lease term for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

    • I invested in buying a 1 bedroom flat in Prestbury, conveyancing having been completed half a dozen years ago. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Equivalent properties in Prestbury with over 90 years remaining are worth £200,000. The ground rent is £55 levied per year. The lease comes to an end on 21st October 2088

    With only 64 years left to run we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £17,100 and £19,800 as well as costs.

    The suggested premium range above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to supply a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. Do not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be additional issues that need to be taken into account and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information before getting professional advice.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Prestbury