Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Townhill:

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Leasehold conveyancing in Townhill is more complex than freehold. Your home move will be smoother where you choose a lawyer with a wealth of experience of leasehold conveyancing in Townhill and next step up in loc. The lawyers we recommend have been approved by your lender so use our search tool to check.

Top Five Questions relating to Townhill leasehold conveyancing

Expecting to complete next month on a leasehold property in Townhill. Conveyancing solicitors have said that they report fully on Monday. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • Are pets allowed in the flat?
  • An explanation as to the provision in the lease to pay service charges - with regard to both the building, and the more general rights a leaseholder has
  • Whether your lease has a provision for a sinking fund?
  • You should have a good understanding of the insurance provisions
  • Whether the landlord has obligations to ensure rights of quiet enjoyment over your premises and do you know what it means in practice?
  • 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 details of the information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Townhill please enquire of your lawyer in advance of your conveyancing in Townhill

    • Estate agents have just been given the go-ahead to market my 2 bed flat in Townhill.Conveyancing has not commenced but I have just had a half-yearly service charge invoice – what should I do?

    The sensible thing to do is pay 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 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. 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 tick a lot of boxes, at a great figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have just found out that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are issues buying a house with a leasehold title in Townhill. Conveyancing solicitors have are about to be appointed. Will they explain the issues?

    Most houses in Townhill are freehold and not leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer used to dealing with such properties who can assist with the conveyancing process. We note that you are purchasing in Townhill in which case you should be looking for a Townhill conveyancing solicitor and check that they have experience in dealing with leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions such as obtaining the landlord’sconsent to carry out changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a contribution towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your lawyer should appraise you on the various issues.

    Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Townhill from the point of view of expediting the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Townhill can be bypassed where you appoint lawyers the minute you market your property and ask them to collate the leasehold documentation needed by the buyers lawyers.
    • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s approval? In particular have you laid down wooden flooring? Townhill leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or installing wooden flooring require a licence issued by the Landlord consenting to such alterations. Should you dont have the approvals to hand do not contact the landlord without contacting your lawyer in the first instance.
  • A minority of Townhill leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this is the case, you should notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain bank and professional references. The bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is able to meet the yearly 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 service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their solicitors.
  • If you have the benefit of shareholding in the Management Company, you should make sure that you are holding the original share certificate. Organising a replacement share certificate is often a lengthy process and frustrates many a Townhill home move. If a duplicate share is necessary, do contact the company officers or managing agents (if applicable) for this sooner rather than later.
  • You believe that you know the number of years left on your lease but it would be wise to double-check by asking your lawyers. A buyer’s conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to where the lease term is under 75 years. In the circumstances it is essential at an as soon as possible 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.

    • All being well we will complete the disposal of our £150000 garden flat in Townhill in just under a week. The landlords agents has quoted £312 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and previous years service charge statements. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge exorbitant fees for a leasehold conveyance in Townhill?

    Townhill conveyancing on leasehold apartments usually requires the purchaser’s conveyancer submitting questions for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to address these enquiries most will be willing to assist. They are at liberty invoice a reasonable charge for answering questions or supplying documentation. There is no upper cap for such fees. The average fee for the information that you are referring to is over three hundred pounds, in some cases it exceeds £800. The administration charge invoiced by the landlord must be sent together with a summary of entitlements and obligations in respect of administration fees, without which the charge is technically not due. Reality however dictates that one has no option but to pay whatever is requested of you if you want to exchange contracts with the buyer.

    Leasehold Conveyancing in Townhill - Sample of Questions you should ask Prior to buying

      What is the name of the managing agents? Is the freehold owned jointly by the tenants? How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their service charge payments?

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Townhill