Recently asked questions relating to Totterdown leasehold conveyancing
Planning to complete next month on a basement flat in Totterdown. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they will have a report out to me on Monday. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?
The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Totterdown should include some of the following:
- Does the lease prohibit wood flooring?
I’m about to sell my ground floor flat in Totterdown.Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon but I have just had a half-yearly service charge invoice – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?
Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should pay 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 until 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.
My wife and I purchased a leasehold flat in Totterdown. Conveyancing and The Mortgage Works mortgage went though with no issue. I have received a letter from someone claiming to own the freehold. It included a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1991. The conveyancing practitioner in Totterdown who acted for me is not around.Any advice?
First contact HMLR to make sure that the individual purporting to own the freehold is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. It is not necessary to instruct a Totterdown conveyancing solicitor to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for less than a fiver. You should note that in any event, even if this is the rightful landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.
I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a two apartments in Totterdown which have in the region of fifty years left on the leases. Do I need to be concerned?
There are plenty of short leases in Totterdown. The lease is a right to use the premises for a prescribed time frame. As a lease shortens the saleability of the lease reduces and results in it becoming more expensive to acquire a lease extension. This is why it is advisable to extend the lease term. It is often difficult to sell a property with a short lease because mortgage lenders less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease enfranchisement can be a protracted process. We advise that you seek professional assistance from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this field
Can you offer any advice when it comes to appointing a Totterdown conveyancing firm to deal with our lease extension?
When appointing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Totterdown conveyancing firm) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you talk with several firms including non Totterdown conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be of use:
- If they are not ALEP accredited then why not?
Leasehold Conveyancing in Totterdown - Examples of Questions you should consider before buying
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Generally speaking the outlay for major works are not included within maintenance charges, although there some managing agents in Totterdown obliged leasehold owners to pay into a reserve fund created for the specific intention of establishing a fund for major repairs or maintenance.
Who takes charge for maintaining and repairing the building?
What restrictions exist in the Totterdown Lease?
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