Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Ramsbottom:

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When it comes to leasehold conveyancing in Ramsbottom, you will need to chose a conveyancing lawyer with leasehold experience. Whether your lender is to be Santander, Birmingham Midshires or Nationwide be sure to find a lawyer on their approved list. Find a Ramsbottom conveyancing lawyer with our search tool

Top Five Questions relating to Ramsbottom leasehold conveyancing

I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Ramsbottom. Before I set the wheels in motion I require certainty as to the unexpired term of the lease.

If the lease is registered - and most are in Ramsbottom - then the leasehold title will always include the short particulars 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 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 found out that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Ramsbottom. Conveyancing lawyers have are soon to be appointed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in Ramsbottom are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are purchasing in Ramsbottom in which case you should be shopping around for a Ramsbottom conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example obtaining the freeholder’sconsent to conduct changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your solicitor will advise you fully on all the issues.

I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a two flats in Ramsbottom both have in the region of fifty years remaining on the lease term. Will this present a problem?

There is no doubt about it. A leasehold apartment in Ramsbottom is a wasting asset as a result of the shortening lease. The closer the lease gets to zero years unexpired, the more it adversely affects the salability of the property. The majority of purchasers and mortgage companies, leases with under 75 years become less and less attractive. On a more positive note, leaseholders can extend their leases by serving a Section 42 Notice. One stipulation is that they must have owned the premises 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 a residence 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 Ramsbottom conveyancing experts who will explain the options available to you during an initial telephone conversation free of charge. A more straightforward and quicker method of extending would be to contact your landlord directly and sound him out on the prospect of extending 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 the agreed 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.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to finding a Ramsbottom conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Ramsbottom conveyancing practice) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you speak with two or three firms including non Ramsbottom conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions might be useful:

  • How experienced is the practice with lease extension legislation?
  • If the firm is not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?

    • Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Ramsbottom from the point of view of saving time on the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Ramsbottom can be reduced if you instruct lawyers as soon as your agents start marketing the property and request that they start to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ lawyers.
    • Many freeholders or managing agents in Ramsbottom levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the fee that they propose to charge. The management information can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus reducing delays. The average time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most common cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Ramsbottom.
  • Some Ramsbottom leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this is the case, you should notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers put in hand bank and professional references. The bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are financially capable of paying the yearly service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their solicitors.
  • If there is a history of conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is very important that these are resolved before the property is marketed. The purchasers and their solicitors will be concerned about purchasing a property where there is an ongoing dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as historic as opposed to unresolved.
  • If you hold a share in a the Management Company, you should ensure that you hold the original share document. Obtaining a re-issued share certificate can be a time consuming process and delays many a Ramsbottom home move. If a duplicate share is needed, do contact the company officers or managing agents (where relevant) for this sooner rather than later.

    • I inherited a split level flat in Ramsbottom, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. How much will my lease extension cost? Corresponding properties in Ramsbottom with a long lease are worth £249,000. The ground rent is £60 levied per year. The lease ceases on 21st October 2092

    You have 71 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £11,400 and £13,200 as well as legals.

    The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed due diligence. You should not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be additional concerns that need to be taken into account and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Please do not take any other action placing reliance on this information before getting professional advice.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Ramsbottom