Leasehold Conveyancing in Widnes - Get a Quote from the leasehold experts approved by your lender

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While any conveyancing solicitor can theoretically handle your leasehold conveyancing in Widnes, your mortgage provider may not be willing to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

Widnes leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s

Expecting to sign contracts shortly on a leasehold property in Widnes. Conveyancing lawyers inform me that they are sending me a report tomorrow. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

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

  • You should receive a copy of the lease
  • Do you need to have carpet in the flat or are you allowed wood flooring?
  • Does the lease prevent you from renting out the flat, or working from home
  • Ground rent - how much and when you need to pay, and also know whether this will change in the future
  • Changes to the flat (alterations and additions)
  • 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
  • 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 Widnes please enquire of your solicitor in advance of your conveyancing in Widnes

    • I today plan to offer on a house that appears to be perfect, at a great price which is making it more attractive. I have just discovered that it's a leasehold as opposed to freehold. I would have thought that there are issues purchasing a leasehold house in Widnes. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been instructed. Will they explain the issues?

    The majority of houses in Widnes are freehold rather than leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. It is clear that you are buying in Widnes in which case you should be looking for a Widnes conveyancing practitioner and check that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a lessee you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease will likely included provisions such as requiring the freeholder’sconsent to carry out changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your conveyancer should advise you fully on all the issues.

    I own a leasehold flat in Widnes. Conveyancing and Bank of Ireland mortgage are in place. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1993. The conveyancing solicitor in Widnes who previously acted has long since retired.Any advice?

    First make enquiries of the Land Registry to make sure that this person is in fact the registered owner of the freehold reversion. There is no need to instruct a Widnes conveyancing solicitor to do this as it can be done on-line for £3. Rest assured that regardless, even if this is the rightful freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

    What advice can you give us when it comes to choosing a Widnes conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

    When appointing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Widnes conveyancing firm) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggested that you talk with two or three firms including non Widnes conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions could be of use:

    • How many lease extensions has the firm carried out in Widnes in the last 12 months?
  • Can they put you in touch with client in Widnes who can give a testimonial?

    • Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Widnes with the aim of saving time on the sale process?

    • A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Widnes can be bypassed if you appoint lawyers as soon as your agents start marketing the property and ask them to put together the leasehold documentation needed by the purchasers’ representatives.
    • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s consent? Have you, for example laid down wooden flooring? Widnes leases often stipulate that internal structural alterations or installing wooden flooring calls for a licence from the Landlord consenting to such works. If you dont have the paperwork in place do not communicate with the landlord without checking with your lawyer in the first instance.
  • Some Widnes leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this is the case, you should place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers obtain financial (bank) and professional references. Any bank reference will need to confirm that the buyers are financially capable of paying 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 actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers.
  • If there is a history of conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is very important that these are resolved before the property is put on the market. The buyers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a flat where there is a current dispute. You may need to swallow your pride and pay any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to completion of the sale. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose details of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is clearly preferable to reveal the dispute as historic as opposed to ongoing.
  • You believe that you know the number of years remaining on your lease but it would be wise to verify this via your conveyancers. A buyer’s lawyer will not be happy to advise their client to proceed with the purchase of a leasehold property the lease term is below 80 years. It is therefore important 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.

    • Leasehold Conveyancing in Widnes - A selection of Queries Prior to buying

      The prefered form of lease arrangement is where the freehold interest is in the ownership of the leaseholders. In this arrangement the tenants enjoy control and notwithstanding that a managing agent is usually retained if it is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent acts for the leaseholders themselves. Are any of leasehold owners in arrears of their service charge liability? The answer will be important as a) areas could result in problems for the building as the common areas may begin to deteriorate if repairs are not paid for b) if the leaseholders have a dispute with the managing agents you will need to know about it

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Widnes