Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Saltdean:

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

Common questions relating to Saltdean leasehold conveyancing

My fiance and I may need to sub-let our Saltdean basement flat temporarily due to taking a sabbatical. We instructed a Saltdean conveyancing firm in 2002 but they have closed and we did not have the foresight to seek any guidance as to whether the lease prohibits the subletting of the flat. How do we find out?

The lease dictates the relationship between the landlord and you the leaseholder; specifically, it will set out if subletting is banned, or permitted but only subject to certain caveats. The rule is that if the lease contains no expres ban or restriction, subletting is allowed. Most leases in Saltdean do not contain subletting altogether – such a clause would undoubtedly devalue the flat. Instead, there is usually a basic requirement that the owner notifies the freeholder, possibly sending a duplicate of the tenancy agreement.

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only Seventy years unexpired on my flat in Saltdean. I now wish to extend my lease but my freeholder is missing. What are my options?

On the basis that you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be granted an extra 90 years by the Court. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to locate the freeholder. For most situations a specialist would be helpful to try and locate and prepare a report which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer both on investigating the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court covering Saltdean.

I am hoping to sign contracts shortly on a garden flat in Saltdean. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they are sending me a report tomorrow. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • The total extent of the premises. This will be the apartment itself but could also incorporate a loft or basement if appropriate.
  • Does the lease require carpeting throughout thus preventing wood flooring?
  • Are pets allowed in the flat?
  • Does the lease prevent you from subletting the flat, or having a home office for business
  • You need to be told what counts as a Nuisance in the lease
  • I don't know whether the lease allows me to alter or improve anything in the flat - you should know whether it applies to all alterations or just structural alteration, and whether consent is required
  • What you can do if a neighbour breach a clause of their lease? For details of the information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Saltdean please enquire of your conveyancer in advance of your conveyancing in Saltdean

    • I have just started marketing my garden apartment in Saltdean.Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon but I have just received a quarterly maintenance charge invoice – Do I pay up?

    The sensible thing to do is pay 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 unless 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 tempted by the attractive purchase price for a couple of apartments in Saltdean both have approximately forty five years remaining on the leases. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?

    There are plenty of short leases in Saltdean. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the property for a prescribed time frame. As the lease gets shorter the value of the lease deteriorate and results in it becoming more expensive to extend the lease. This is why it is often a good idea to increase the term of the lease. It is often difficult to sell a property with a short lease because mortgage companies may be unwilling to lend money on properties of this type. Lease enfranchisement can be a difficult process. We recommend you get professional assistance from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this arena

    I purchased a 1st floor flat in Saltdean, conveyancing was carried out 1998. How much will my lease extension cost? Equivalent flats in Saltdean with over 90 years remaining are worth £247,000. The ground rent is £45 yearly. The lease ceases on 21st October 2090

    With only 67 years left to run the likely cost is going to span between £10,500 and £12,000 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

    The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to advice on a more accurate figure without more detailed investigations. You should not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There may be other issues that need to be considered and you obviously want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

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    Lease Extensions in Saltdean