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

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Any conveyancing solicitor can theoretically deal with your leasehold conveyancing in Woodingdean, your mortgage provider may unwilling to work with them if the firm are not on their list of approved solicitors for conveyancing

Woodingdean leasehold conveyancing: Q and A’s

Jane (my partner) and I may need to rent out our Woodingdean ground floor flat temporarily due to a new job. We instructed a Woodingdean conveyancing firm in 2003 but they have closed and we did not have the foresight to seek any guidance as to whether the lease allows us to sublet. How do we find out?

Notwithstanding that your last Woodingdean conveyancing solicitor is not available you can review your lease to see if you are permitted to let out the premises. The rule is that if the lease is non-specific, subletting is allowed. There may be a precondition that you need to obtain permission from your landlord or some other party prior to subletting. This means you not allowed to sublet in the absence of prior permission. Such consent is not allowed to be unreasonably withheld. If your lease does not allow you to sublet you should ask your landlord if they are willing to waive this restriction.

I have just appointed agents to market my ground floor apartment in Woodingdean.Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon but I have just received a yearly service charge demand – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

The sensible thing to do is 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 management companies 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've found a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great price which is making it all the more appealing. I have subsequently found out that it's a leasehold rather than freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns purchasing a leasehold house in Woodingdean. Conveyancing solicitors have not yet been instructed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Woodingdean ?

Most houses in Woodingdean are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are purchasing in Woodingdean in which case you should be looking for a Woodingdean conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in transacting on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority 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 will likely included provisions such as obtaining the landlord’sconsent to conduct changes to the property. It may be necessary to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the house is located on an estate. Your conveyancer should appraise you on the various issues.

What are your top tips when it comes to finding a Woodingdean conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Woodingdean conveyancing firm) it is essential that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We advise that you speak with two or three firms including non Woodingdean conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. Some following of questions could be of use:

  • How experienced is the practice with lease extension legislation?
  • How many lease extensions have they carried out in Woodingdean in the last twenty four months?

    • Do you have any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Woodingdean from the perspective of expediting the sale process?

    • Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Woodingdean can be avoided if you get in touch lawyers as soon as your agents start advertising the property and ask them to collate the leasehold information which will be required by the purchasers’ solicitors.
    • The majority freeholders or managing agents in Woodingdean levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold homes. You or your lawyers should discover the fee that they propose to charge. The management pack can be applied for as soon as you have a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The average time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most usual reason for delay in leasehold conveyancing in Woodingdean.
  • In the event that you altered the property did you need the Landlord’s consent? Have you, for example installed wooden flooring? Most leases in Woodingdean state that internal structural changes or addition of wooden flooring necessitate a licence from the Landlord acquiescing to such works. Where you dont have the consents to hand do not communicate with the landlord without contacting your lawyer in advance.
  • If there is a history of conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are settled prior to the flat being marketed. The buyers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a flat where a dispute is unsettled. You may have to bite the bullet and pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. 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 particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to present the dispute as historic rather than unresolved.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the Management Company, you should make sure that you are holding the original share document. Organising a replacement share certificate is often a time consuming process and slows down many a Woodingdean conveyancing deal. If a reissued share is needed, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (if relevant) for this as soon as possible.

    • I own a 1 bedroom flat in Woodingdean, conveyancing formalities finalised half a dozen years ago. Can you please calculate a probable premium for a statutory lease extension? Comparable properties in Woodingdean with an extended lease are worth £248,000. The ground rent is £50 levied per year. The lease ceases on 21st October 2098

    With 73 years left to run the likely cost is going to span between £9,500 and £11,000 plus legals.

    The figure above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive investigations. Do not use this information in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt additional issues that need to be considered and you obviously want to 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 Woodingdean