Expecting to complete next month on a garden flat in Sawtry. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they are sending me a report next week. What should I be looking out for?

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

• You should be sent a copy of the lease

Setting out your legal entitlements in respect of common areas in the building.E.G., does the lease include a right of way over a path or staircase?

Do you need to have carpet in the flat or are you allowed wood flooring?

Are you allowed to have a pet in the flat?

You must be told what constitutes a Nuisance in the lease

You should have a good understanding of the insurance provisions

Changes to the flat (alterations and additions) For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Sawtry please enquire of your conveyancer in ahead of your conveyancing in Sawtry

Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my garden flat in Sawtry.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just received a quarterly maintenance charge invoice – what should I do?

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 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. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

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 just been informed that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a leasehold house in Sawtry. Conveyancing solicitors have are about to be instructed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Sawtry ?

Most houses in Sawtry are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Sawtry so you should seriously consider shopping around for a Sawtry conveyancing solicitor and check that they have experience in transacting on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a leaseholder you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the landlord’sconsent to carry out changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the maintenance of the estate where the house is part of an estate. Your conveyancer should report to you on the legal implications.

I own a leasehold house in Sawtry. Conveyancing and Yorkshire Building Society mortgage went though with no issue. A letter has just been received from someone saying they have taken over the freehold. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing practitioner in Sawtry who acted for me is not around.What should I do?

First make enquiries of the Land Registry to be sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. You do not need to instruct a Sawtry 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 freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

We expect to complete the disposal of our £475000 maisonette in Sawtry in just under a week. The freeholder has quoted £348 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and 3 years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge an administration fee for a leasehold conveyance in Sawtry?

Sawtry conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes typically results in administration charges invoiced by management companies :

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

Your lawyer will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Sawtry leasehold property is £350. For Sawtry 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 required to provide the information.

Sawtry Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing

How much is the ground rent and service charge? Does the lease include onerous restrictions? The prefered form of lease arrangement is if the freehold title is owned by the leaseholders. In this arrangement the leaseholders enjoy control and although a managing agent is frequently employed where the building is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent is directed by the tenants.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Sawtry