I have recently realised that I have Sixty One years left on my lease in Thurrock. I am keen to get lease extension but my freeholder is absent. What are my options?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, 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 enable the lease to be extended by the Court. You will be obliged to prove that you or your lawyers have done all that could be expected to locate the freeholder. For most situations a specialist would be helpful to carry out a search and prepare a report which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the landlord is indeed missing. It is advisable to get professional help from a property lawyer both on devolving into the landlord’s absence and the vesting order request to the County Court covering Thurrock.

Expecting to sign contracts shortly on a ground floor flat in Thurrock. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they are sending me a report on Monday. What should I be looking out for?

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

• The unexpired lease term You should be advised as what happens when the lease ends, and informed of the importance of not letting the lease term falling below eighty years

I have just started marketing my 2 bed apartment in Thurrock.Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon but I have just received a yearly maintenance charge invoice – Do I pay up?

It best that you clear the service charge 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 managing agents 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 am attracted to a two flats in Thurrock which have approximately fifty years unexpired on the lease term. should I be concerned?

A lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the property for a period of time. As the lease gets shorter the value of the lease deteriorate and it becomes more expensive to extend the lease. For this reason it is advisable to increase the term of the lease. More often than not it is difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease because mortgage companies less inclined to grant a loan on properties of this type. Lease extension can be a protracted process. We advise that you seek professional help from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this arena

I work for a long established estate agent office in Thurrock where we see a few leasehold sales put at risk due to short leases. I have been given inconsistent advice from local Thurrock conveyancing firms. Could you confirm whether the owner of a flat can commence the lease extension formalities for the purchaser on completion of the sale?

As long as the seller has owned the lease 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. The benefit of this is that the buyer 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 before, 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 purchaser.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Thurrock - Examples of Queries Prior to buying

Does the lease have onerous restrictions? If a Thurrock lease has fewer than 80 years it will have adverse implications on the value of the apartment. It is worth checking with your lender that they are willing to to proceed given the lease term. A short lease means that you will almost definitely require a lease extension sooner rather than later and you need to have some idea of what this will be. Remember, in most cases you will need to own the premises for two years before you are eligible to extend the lease. It would be sensible to enquire if there is anything that is prohibited in the lease. By way of example some leases prohibit pets being permitted in certain buildings in Thurrock. If you love the apartmentin Thurrock yet your cat is not allowed to live with you then you will be faced difficult compromise.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Thurrock