Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Sevenoaks:

Get a Quote

Leasehold conveyancing in Sevenoaks is more complex than freehold. Your home move will be smoother where you choose a lawyer with a wealth of experience of leasehold conveyancing in Sevenoaks and next step up in loc. The lawyers we recommend have been approved by your lender so use our search tool to check.

Frequently asked questions relating to Sevenoaks leasehold conveyancing

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only Seventy years left on my flat in Sevenoaks. I now want to get lease extension but my freeholder is absent. What should I do?

If you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be extended by the magistrate. However, you will be required to prove that you or your lawyers have done all that could be expected to find the freeholder. On the whole a specialist would be useful to try and locate and to produce a report which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the freeholder is indeed missing. It is wise to seek advice from a property lawyer both on investigating the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Sevenoaks.

I am hoping to exchange soon on a ground floor flat in Sevenoaks. Conveyancing solicitors inform me that they are sending me a report on Monday. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • The total extent of the demise. This will be the apartment itself but might incorporate a loft or basement if applicable.
  • Are pets allowed in the flat?
  • Does the lease prevent you from renting out the property, or working from home
  • Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this will change in the future
  • 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
  • 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 the implications are if you breach a clause of your lease? For details of the information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Sevenoaks please enquire of your solicitor in advance of your conveyancing in Sevenoaks

    • I have just appointed agents to market my basement flat in Sevenoaks.Conveyancing is yet to be initiated but I have just had a yearly maintenance charge invoice – Do I pay up?

    Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should discharge 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 management companies 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.

    My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Sevenoaks. Conveyancing and Nottingham Building Society mortgage organised. I have received a letter from someone saying they have taken over the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1993. The conveyancing practitioner in Sevenoaks who previously acted has now retired.What should I do?

    The first thing you should do is make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that this person is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to instruct a Sevenoaks conveyancing firm to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for a few pound. You should note that regardless, even if this is the rightful freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

    What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Sevenoaks conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?

    If you are instructing a conveyancer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Sevenoaks conveyancing firm) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We recommend that you speak with several firms including non Sevenoaks conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions could be useful:

    • If they are not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?
  • What are the charges for lease extension work?

    • Sevenoaks Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Questions you should consider before Purchasing

      Make sure you find out if the the lease contains any onerous restrictions in the lease. For example some leases prohibit pets being allowed in in a block in Sevenoaks. If you like the apartmentin Sevenoaks yet your dog is not allowed to move with you then you will be faced difficult determination. The answer will be important as a) areas can cause problems for the building as the communal areas may start to deteriorate if repairs are not paid for b) if the leaseholders have an issue with the managing agents you will want to have complete disclosure How is the lease structured?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Sevenoaks