I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Whimple. Before I set the wheels in motion I require certainty as to the unexpired term of the lease.

If the lease is registered - and almost all are in Whimple - then the leasehold title will always include the basic details 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.

Due to sign contracts shortly on a studio apartment in Whimple. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they will have a report out to me within the next couple of days. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

• You should receive a copy of the lease

Details of the parties to the lease, for example these could be the leaseholder (you), head lessor, freeholder

Defining your rights in respect of common areas in the block.E.G., does the lease provide for a right of way over a path or staircase?

Whether the lease restricts you from renting out the property, or working from home

I don't know whether the lease allows me to alter or improve anything in the flat - you should know whether it applies to all alterations or just structural alteration, and whether consent is required

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 For a comprehensive list of information to be contained in your report on your leasehold property in Whimple please enquire of your lawyer in ahead of your conveyancing in Whimple

I today plan to offer on a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great price which is making it more attractive. I have just found out that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are particular concerns purchasing a house with a leasehold title in Whimple. Conveyancing solicitors have not yet been instructed. Will my lawyers set out the risks of buying a leasehold house in Whimple ?

Most houses in Whimple are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in Whimple in which case you should be looking for a Whimple conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to dealing with leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a leaseholder you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions for example obtaining the freeholder’sconsent to carry out changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the estate where the property is located on an estate. Your solicitor should appraise you on the various issues.

Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Whimple with the purpose of expediting the sale process?

• Much of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Whimple can be avoided if you get in touch lawyers the minute your agents start advertising the property and ask them to collate the leasehold information needed by the buyers solicitors.
• Many landlords or managing agents in Whimple levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should discover the actual amount of the charges. The management pack can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus reducing delays. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most common reason for delay in leasehold conveyancing in Whimple.

If you have had any disputes with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved prior to the flat being put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be warry about purchasing a flat where there is a current dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and discharge any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to completion of the sale. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose details of the dispute to the buyers, but it is better to present the dispute as historic as opposed to unsettled.

If you have the benefit of shareholding in the Management Company, you should make sure that you are holding the original share document. Organising a re-issued share certificate is often a time consuming process and slows down many a Whimple home move. If a duplicate share is needed, do contact the company director and secretary or managing agents (where relevant) for this sooner rather than later.

You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but it would be advisable verify this by asking your conveyancers. A buyer’s conveyancer will be unlikely to recommend their client to where the lease term is below 75 years. In the circumstances it is essential at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your premises on the market for sale.

We expect to complete our sale of a £300000 maisonette in Whimple on Monday in a week. The landlords agents has quoted £324 for Landlord’s certificate, building insurance schedule and previous years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Whimple?

Whimple conveyancing on leasehold flats nine out of ten times involves fees being invoiced by managing agents :

• Completing conveyancing due diligence enquiries
• Where consent is required before sale in Whimple
• Copies of the building insurance and schedule
• Deeds of covenant upon sale
• Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale

Your lawyer will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Whimple leasehold premises is £350. For Whimple conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are required to supply answers.

I purchased a ground floor flat in Whimple, conveyancing having been completed 2006. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Corresponding properties in Whimple with over 90 years remaining are worth £174,000. The ground rent is £60 invoiced annually. The lease comes to an end on 21st October 2079

With only 57 years remaining on your lease we estimate the premium for your lease extension to be between £26,600 and £30,800 as well as plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we are not able to supply the actual costs in the absence of detailed investigations. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt other issues that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. Neither should you take any other action based on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Whimple