I am on look out for some leasehold conveyancing in Stevenage. Before I get started I want to be sure as to the number of years remaining on the lease.

Assuming the lease is recorded at the land registry - and 99.9% are in Stevenage - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title.For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.

I want to let out my leasehold flat in Stevenage. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask her. Do I need to ask my freeholder for their consent?

A small minority of properties in Stevenage do contain a provision to say that subletting is only permitted with prior consent from the landlord. The landlord cannot unreasonably refuse but, in such cases, they would need to see references. Experience dictates that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting permission.

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 68 years remaining on my flat in Stevenage. I now wish to extend my lease but my landlord is can not be found. 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 lengthened by the Court. However, you will be required to prove that you have done all that could be expected to find the freeholder. On the whole an enquiry agent would be helpful to try and locate and prepare a report to be used as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is advisable to get professional help from a conveyancer in relation to proving the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Stevenage.

I’m about to sell my basement apartment in Stevenage.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just received a half-yearly maintenance charge invoice – what should I do?

The sensible thing to do is clear 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 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.

We expect to complete the disposal of our £425000 apartment in Stevenage next Friday . The managing agents has quoted £336 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and 3 years service charge statements. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Stevenage?

Stevenage conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes typically involves administration charges levied by freeholders :

• Addressing pre-contract enquiries
• Where consent is required before sale in Stevenage
• 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 Stevenage leasehold premises is £350. For Stevenage 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 supply the information.

Stevenage Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Questions you should consider before buying

This information is important as a) areas may result in problems in the building as the communal areas may start to deteriorate if maintenance remain unpaid b) if the leasehold owners have a dispute with the running of the building you will want to have full disclosure The prefered form of lease structure is a share of the freehold. In this situation the leaseholders benefit from control and even though a managing agent is usually retained where the building is bigger than a house conversion, the managing agent employed by the leaseholders. It would be a good idea to find out if the the lease includes any unreasonable restrictions in the lease. For example some leases prohibit pets being allowed in certain buildings in Stevenage. If you like the flatin Stevenage but your dog is not allowed to move with you then you will be faced hard compromise.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Stevenage