Expecting to complete next month on a studio apartment in Rothbury. Conveyancing lawyers assured me that they are sending me a report tomorrow. What should I be looking out for?

Your report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Rothbury should include some of the following:

• The total extent of the premises. This will be the property itself but might include a roof space or cellar if applicable.

I’m about to sell my basement flat in Rothbury.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just received a yearly service charge invoice – what should I do?

It best that you clear the invoice 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. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that appears to be perfect, at a great price which is making it more attractive. I have subsequently been informed that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Rothbury. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be appointed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Rothbury ?

The majority of houses in Rothbury are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in Rothbury so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Rothbury conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the landlord’spermission to conduct alterations. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your conveyancer will advise you fully on all the issues.

Back In 2003, I bought a leasehold house in Rothbury. Conveyancing and Skipton Building Society mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1998. The conveyancing solicitor in Rothbury who previously acted has now retired.Do I pay?

The first thing you should do is contact HMLR to be sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. There is no need to instruct a Rothbury conveyancing solicitor to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for less than a fiver. You should note that in any event, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

I am employed by a long established estate agent office in Rothbury where we have witnessed a number of leasehold sales derailed due to short leases. I have been given contradictory information from local Rothbury conveyancing solicitors. Can you shed some light as to whether the seller of a flat can commence the lease extension process for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to kick-start the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the buyer need not have to sit tight for 2 years to extend their lease. Both sets of lawyers will agree to form of assignment. The assignment has to be done prior to, or simultaneously with completion of the sale.

Alternatively, it may be possible to agree the lease extension with the freeholder either before or after the sale. If you are informally negotiating there are no rules and so you cannot insist on the landlord agreeing to grant an extension or transferring the benefit of an agreement to the buyer.

Rothbury Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Queries before buying

Please tell me if there are any major works on the horizon that will likely increase the maintenance charges? Its a good idea to discover as much as you can about the company managing the block as they will affect your use and enjoyment of the property. Being a leasehold owner you are frequently in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to day to day issues like the cleanliness of the common parts. Don't be shy to ask other tenants what they think of their service. Finally, be sure you know the dates that the service fees are due to the managing agents and specifically what you get for your money. For most Rothbury leaseholds the outlay for major works are not built into the service charges, although a few managing agents in Rothbury obliged leasehold owners to pay into a sinking fund created for the specific intention of building a fund for major works.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Rothbury