Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Thornaby:

Get a Quote

Whether you are buying or selling leasehold flat in Thornaby, our panel of leasehold conveyancing experts will help you move with as little stress as possible. Find a Thornaby conveyancing lawyer with our search tool

Questions and Answers: Thornaby leasehold conveyancing

Due to sign contracts shortly on a leasehold property in Thornaby. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they will have a report out to me next week. What should I be looking out for?

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

  • Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, landlord
  • The total extent of the premises. This will be the flat itself but could also include a roof space or basement if applicable.
  • Defining your legal entitlements in relation to the communal areas in the building.E.G., does the lease provide for a right of way over a path or hallways?
  • Whether your lease has a provision for a reserve fund?
  • 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.
  • The landlord’s obligations to repair and maintain the building. It is important that you know who is responsible for the repair and maintenance of every part of the building
  • What the implications are if you breach a clause of your lease? For a comprehensive list of information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Thornaby please ask your lawyer in advance of your conveyancing in Thornaby

    • Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my 2 bed apartment in Thornaby.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just had a half-yearly maintenance charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

    The sensible thing to do is 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 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. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.

    I've found a house that seems to tick a lot of boxes, at a reasonable figure which is making it more attractive. I have since been informed that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns buying a house with a leasehold title in Thornaby. Conveyancing advisers have are soon to be instructed. Will they explain the issues?

    Most houses in Thornaby are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in Thornaby so you should seriously consider looking for a Thornaby conveyancing practitioner and be sure that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. Being a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions such as obtaining the landlord’spermission to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the estate where the house is part of an estate. Your solicitor will report to you on the legal implications.

    Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Thornaby with the intention of saving time on the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Thornaby can be avoided if you instruct lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ lawyers.
    • Many freeholders or Management Companies in Thornaby charge for providing management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus reducing delays. The typical amount of time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most frequent cause of frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Thornaby.
  • If you have carried out any alterations to the residence would they have required Landlord’s consent? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Thornaby leases often stipulate that internal structural changes or installing wooden flooring require a licence issued by the Landlord consenting to such changes. Should you fail to have the paperwork in place you should not contact the landlord without checking with your solicitor before hand.
  • If you hold a share in a the freehold, you should make sure that you are holding the original share certificate. Organising a duplicate share certificate can be a lengthy process and slows down many a Thornaby conveyancing transaction. If a duplicate share certificate is required, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (if applicable) for this as soon as possible.
  • You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but you should verify this by asking your lawyers. A purchaser's conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to proceed with the purchase of a leasehold property the remaining number of years is below 80 years. It is therefore important at an early stage that you consider whether the lease for your property needs extending. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your home on the market for sale.

    • Completion in due on our sale of a £175000 maisonette in Thornaby next Friday . The freeholder has quoted £384 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and 3 years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge an administration fee for a leasehold conveyance in Thornaby?

    Thornaby conveyancing on leasehold apartments often necessitates the buyer’s conveyancer submitting enquiries for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is not legally bound to respond to such questions the majority will be willing to do so. They are entitled invoice a reasonable charge for answering questions or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average fee for the paperwork that you are referring to is £350, in some transactions it is above £800. The management information fee demanded by the landlord must be accompanied by a synopsis of rights and obligations in respect of administration charges, without which the invoice is not strictly payable. Reality however dictates that you have little option but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to sell the property.

    Thornaby Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Questions you should consider before Purchasing

      If a Thornaby lease has less than 80 years it will impact the marketability of the flat. It is worth checking with your lender that they are content with remaining years on the lease. A short lease means that you will probably require a lease extension sooner rather than later and you need to have some idea of how much this would cost. For most Thornabylease extensions you would need to own the property for two years in order to be legally able to extend the lease. On the whole the cost for major works are not wrapped into the service charges, although some managing agents in Thornaby ask leaseholders to contribute towards a reserve fund created for the specific intention of building a fund for larger repairs or maintenance. Many Thornaby leasehold apartments will incur a service charge for the upkeep of the building set by the management company. Where you purchase the flat you will have to pay this liability, normally in instalments accross the year. This could differ from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built blocks. In all probability there will be a rentcharge to be met yearly, this is usually not a large sum, say approximately £50-£100 but you need to enquire as occasionally it can be prohibitively expensive.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Thornaby