Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Toddington. Before I get started I want to be sure as to the remaining lease term.

If the lease is registered - and most are in Toddington - then the leasehold title will always include the short particulars 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.

My husband and I may need to rent out our Toddington ground floor flat for a while due to taking a sabbatical. We used a Toddington conveyancing practice in 2002 but they have since shut and we did not think at the time seek any guidance as to whether the lease allows us to sublet. How do we find out?

Notwithstanding that your previous Toddington conveyancing solicitor is not around you can check your lease to see if you are permitted to let out the apartment. The rule is that if the deeds are silent, subletting is allowed. Quite often there is a prerequisite that you must seek permission from your landlord or some other party before subletting. This means you not allowed to sublet without first obtaining permission. The consent is not allowed to be unreasonably withheld. If your lease does not allow you to sublet you should ask your landlord for their consent.

I have just started marketing my garden apartment in Toddington.Conveyancing is yet to be initiated but I have just received a half-yearly service charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should 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 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 hoping to put an offer on a small detached house that seems to be perfect, at a reasonable figure which is making it more attractive. I have since discovered that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues purchasing a leasehold house in Toddington. Conveyancing lawyers have are soon to be appointed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Toddington ?

The majority of houses in Toddington are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are purchasing in Toddington so you should seriously consider looking for a Toddington conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a leaseholder you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease will likely included provisions for example requiring the landlord’sconsent to carry out changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the maintenance of the estate where the property is part of an estate. Your solicitor will appraise you on the various issues.

We expect to complete our sale of a £175000 apartment in Toddington in seven days. The landlords agents has quoted £396 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and 3 years statements of service charge. Is the landlord entitled to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Toddington?

Toddington conveyancing on leasehold flats normally necessitates the purchaser’s solicitor sending enquiries for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to respond to these enquiries most will be willing to assist. They are entitled levy a reasonable charge for answering questions or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average costs for the information that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some transactions it is above £800. The administration charge levied by the landlord must be accompanied by a summary of rights and obligations in relation to administration fees, otherwise the invoice is technically not due. Reality however dictates that one has no choice but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to complete the sale of your home.

Toddington Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Queries Prior to Purchasing

The prefered form of lease arrangement is a share of the freehold. In this scenario the leaseholders have control and even though a managing agent is frequently employed where it is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves. You should be aware if it is fewer than eighty years it will affect the marketability of the property. It is worth checking with your lender that they are willing to go ahead with the loan given the lease term. Leases with fewer than 80 years remaining means that you will almost definitely have to extend the lease at some point and it is worth discovering how much this will be. Remember, in most cases you would be be obliged to have been the owner of the premises for two years before you are legally able to carry out a lease extension. What is the yearly service fee and ground rent?

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Toddington