I am hoping to complete next month on a garden flat in Stilton. Conveyancing solicitors assured me that they will have a report out to me tomorrow. What should I be looking out for?

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

• Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, freeholder

Defining your legal entitlements in respect of common areas in the building.By way of example, does the lease permit a right of way over an accessway or staircase?

Does the lease require carpeting throughout thus preventing wood flooring?

You must be told what constitutes a Nuisance in the lease

Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)

The landlord’s rights to access the flat you be made aware that your landlord has rights of access and I know how much notice s/he must provide.

What options are open to you if a neighbour breach a clause of their lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be included in your report on your leasehold property in Stilton please ask your solicitor in advance of your conveyancing in Stilton

Back In 2004, I bought a leasehold house in Stilton. Conveyancing and Coventry Building Society mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1998. The conveyancing practitioner in Stilton who acted for me is not around.What should I do?

First contact the Land Registry to be sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to incur the fees of a Stilton conveyancing lawyer to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. You should note that regardless, even if this is the legitimate 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 Stilton conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Stilton conveyancing firm) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you make enquires with several firms including non Stilton conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be useful:

• How experienced is the practice with lease extension legislation?

If the firm is not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?

Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Stilton with the purpose of expediting the sale process?

• Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Stilton can be reduced where you get in touch lawyers as soon as you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the buyers conveyancers.
• The majority landlords or Management Companies in Stilton charge for providing management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should find out the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack sought on or before finding a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most usual cause of delay in leasehold conveyancing in Stilton.

In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s approval? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Most leases in Stilton state that internal structural changes or installing wooden flooring necessitate a licence from the Landlord acquiescing to such changes. Where you dont have the approvals in place do not contact the landlord without checking with your solicitor before hand.

A minority of Stilton leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this applies to your lease, you should place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers put in hand bank and professional references. The bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are financially capable of paying the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers.

You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but you should double-check by asking your solicitors. A purchaser's lawyer will be unlikely to recommend their client to to exchange contracts if the remaining number of years is below 75 years. It is therefore important at an early stage that you consider whether the lease term for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your property on the market for sale.

Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on the disposal of our £425000 flat in Stilton in 8 days. The landlords agents has quoted £324 for Certificate of Compliance, insurance certificate and previous years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Stilton?

For the majority of leasehold sales in Stilton conveyancing will involve, queries regarding the management of a building inevitably needing to be answered directly by the freeholder or its agent, this includes :

• Answering conveyancing due diligence questions
• Where consent is required before sale in Stilton
• 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 Stilton leasehold premises is £350. For Stilton 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 supply answers.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Stilton - A selection of Questions you should consider before buying

Are there any major works in the planning that will likely increase the service costs? Many Stilton leasehold properties will be liable to pay a service charge for the upkeep of the block set on behalf of the freeholder. If you acquire the apartment you will have to meet this liability, usually in instalments accross the year. This may vary from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built buildings. In all probability there will be a rentcharge to be met yearly, ordinarily this is not a exorbitant sum, say around £50-£100 but you should to enquire as occasionally it could be surprisingly expensive. You will want to discover as much as you can regarding the managing agents as they will affect your use and enjoyment of the property. Being a leasehold owner you will be in the clutches of the managing agents from a financial perspective and when it comes to day to day issues like the tidiness of the common parts. Enquire of prospective neighbours what they think of their management. In conclusion, find out the dates that the maintenance charges are due to the managing agents and precisely how they are spending the funds.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Stilton