Leasehold Conveyancing in Rickmansworth - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

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Any conveyancing solicitor can theoretically deal with your leasehold conveyancing in Rickmansworth, your mortgage provider may unwilling to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

Rickmansworth leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s

Harry (my fiance) and I may need to sub-let our Rickmansworth 1st floor flat for a while due to a new job. We used a Rickmansworth conveyancing practice in 2002 but they have closed and we did not have the foresight to seek any guidance as to whether the lease permits subletting. How do we find out?

Notwithstanding that your previous Rickmansworth conveyancing solicitor is not around you can check your lease to check if you are permitted to let out the apartment. The rule is that if the lease is silent, subletting is allowed. There may be a precondition that you must obtain 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 should not be unreasonably turned down. If the lease prohibits you from subletting the property you should ask your landlord if they are willing to waive this restriction.

I am hoping to exchange soon on a studio apartment in Rickmansworth. Conveyancing solicitors inform me that they report fully next week. What should I be looking out for?

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

  • Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, freeholder
  • Does the lease require carpeting throughout thus preventing wood flooring?
  • You should be told what constitutes a Nuisance in the lease
  • An explanation as to the provision in the lease to pay service charges - with regard to both the building, and the more general rights a leaseholder has
  • 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 you can do if a neighbour breach a clause of their lease? For details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Rickmansworth please ask your lawyer in advance of your conveyancing in Rickmansworth

    • My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Rickmansworth. Conveyancing and Santander mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing practitioner in Rickmansworth who previously acted has long since retired.What should I do?

    First make enquiries of HMLR to make sure that this person is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. There is no need to instruct a Rickmansworth conveyancing firm to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for £3. Rest assured 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.

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

    In a situation 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. 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).

    What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a Rickmansworth conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?

    When appointing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Rickmansworth conveyancing firm) it is imperative that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you speak with two or three firms including non Rickmansworth conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be of use:

    • How familiar is the firm with lease extension legislation?
  • Can they put you in touch with client in Rickmansworth who can give a testimonial?

    • Notwithstanding our best endeavours, we have been unsuccessful in trying to purchase the freehold in Rickmansworth. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?

    Most certainly. We can put you in touch with a Rickmansworth conveyancing firm who can help.

    An example of a Lease Extension case for a Rickmansworth property is Flats 8, 11 and 15 Craigmore Court 46 Murray Road in December 2013. The tribunal held that the price payable by the Applicant tenant of Flat 8 to acquire an extended lease shall be £26,438 plus £1 to the intermediate lessee . The tribunal held that the price payable by the Applicant tenants of Flat 11 to acquire an extended lease shall be £26,791 plus £1 to the intermediate lessee. The tribunal held that the price payable by the Applicant tenant of Flat 15 to acquire an extended lease shall be £26,638 plus £1 to the intermediate lessee . This case related to 3 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 71 years.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Rickmansworth