I have recently realised that I have Fifty years remaining on my lease in Sandy. I now wish to get lease extension but my landlord is can not be found. What are my options?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, 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 lengthened by the magistrate. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you or your lawyers have used your best endeavours to locate the freeholder. In some cases a specialist would be helpful to try and locate and to produce an expert document which can be accepted by the court as proof that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on devolving into the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court covering Sandy.

Looking forward to complete next month on a basement flat in Sandy. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they will have a report out to me next week. What should I be looking out for?

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

• Defining your rights in relation to the communal areas in the building.By way of example, does the lease provide for a right of way over a path or hallways?

You need to be told what constitutes a Nuisance in the lease

Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this will change in the future

Whether your lease has a provision for a reserve fund?

Repair and maintenance of the flat

Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice?

Responsibility for repairing the window frames For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Sandy please ask your lawyer in ahead of your conveyancing in Sandy

I am hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that appears to be perfect, at a reasonable figure which is making it more attractive. I have since discovered that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns buying a house with a leasehold title in Sandy. Conveyancing lawyers have are soon to be appointed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Sandy ?

The majority of houses in Sandy are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Sandy so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Sandy conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they are used to transacting on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a tenant you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the freeholder’sconsent to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a contribution towards the upkeep of the estate where the property is part of an estate. Your lawyer should report to you on the legal implications.

My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Sandy. Conveyancing and Nationwide Building Society mortgage are in place. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1991. The conveyancing solicitor in Sandy who previously acted has now retired.Do I pay?

First contact the Land Registry to be sure that this person is in fact the new freeholder. There is no need to instruct a Sandy conveyancing lawyer to do this as it can be done on-line for a few pound. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

We expect to complete the disposal of our £400000 garden flat in Sandy next Monday . The management company has quoted £420 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and previous years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Sandy?

Sandy conveyancing on leasehold flats normally involves fees being invoiced by managing agents :

• Completing conveyancing due diligence questions
• Where consent is required before sale in Sandy
• Supplying insurance information
• Deeds of covenant upon sale
• Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your conveyancer will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Sandy leasehold premises is £350. For Sandy conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are obliged to provide the information.

Sandy Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Queries before buying

This information is helpful as a) areas could result in problems for the building as the common areas may begin to deteriorate if maintenance remain unpaid b) if the tenants have an issue with the running of the building you will wish to have all the details How long is the Lease? How much is the ground rent and service charge?

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Sandy