Looking forward to sign contracts shortly on a ground floor flat in Shinfield and Arborfield. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they are sending me a report within the next couple of days. What should I be looking out for?

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

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

Back In 2002, I bought a leasehold flat in Shinfield and Arborfield. Conveyancing and Nottingham Building Society mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the freehold. Attached was a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1992. The conveyancing practitioner in Shinfield and Arborfield who acted for me is not around.What should I do?

First make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that this person is in fact the new freeholder. You do not need to instruct a Shinfield and Arborfield conveyancing solicitor to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for less than a fiver. 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.

I've recently bought a leasehold house in Shinfield and Arborfield. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before my ownership?

Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

I am employed by a busy estate agency in Shinfield and Arborfield where we have witnessed a few leasehold sales put at risk as a result of short leases. I have been given conflicting advice from local Shinfield and Arborfield conveyancing solicitors. Please can you shed some light as to whether the seller of a flat can start the lease extension process for the buyer?

As long as the seller has been the owner for at least 2 years it is possible, to serve a Section 42 notice to start the lease extension process and assign the benefit of the notice to the purchaser. This means that the proposed purchaser need not have to wait 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 at the same time as completion of the disposal of the property.

Alternatively, it may be possible to extend the lease informally by agreement with the landlord 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.

All being well we will complete our sale of a £275000 maisonette in Shinfield and Arborfield next Monday . The managing agents has quoted £348 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and previous years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Shinfield and Arborfield?

Shinfield and Arborfield conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes more often than not involves the buyer’s conveyancer sending questions for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is not legally bound to respond to these enquiries most will be willing to assist. They may invoice a reasonable administration fee for responding to questions or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average fee for the paperwork that you are referring to is £350, in some transactions it is in excess of £800. The administration charge levied by the landlord must be sent together with a synopsis of rights and obligations in relation to administration charges, otherwise the invoice is technically not due. Reality however dictates that you have little option but to pay whatever is demanded should you wish to sell the property.

Shinfield and Arborfield Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries Prior to buying

Who manages the block? What prohibitions are contained in the Shinfield and Arborfield Lease? Plenty Shinfield and Arborfield leasehold properties will be liable to pay a service bill for maintenance of the building levied on behalf of the landlord. Should you purchase the flat you will have to pay this contribution, usually periodically during the year. This may be anything from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for buildings with lifts and large communal grounds. In all probability there will be a ground rent for you to pay yearly, ordinarily this is not a large sum, say about £25-£75 but you need to check as sometimes it can be many hundreds of pounds.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Shinfield and Arborfield