I am intending to let out my leasehold flat in Duffield. Conveyancing solicitor who did the purchase is retired - so can't ask him. Is permission from the freeholder required?

Some leases for properties in Duffield do contain a provision to say that subletting is only allowed with permission. The landlord cannot unreasonably withhold but, in such cases, they would need to review references. Experience suggests that problems are usually caused by unsatisfactory tenants rather than owner-occupiers and for that reason you can expect the freeholder to take up the references and consider them carefully before granting consent.

Looking forward to exchange soon on a garden flat in Duffield. 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 Duffield should include some of the following:

• The physical extent of the premises. This will be the apartment itself but may include a loft or basement if appropriate.

I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a two flats in Duffield which have in the region of fifty years left on the lease term. Will this present a problem?

There are plenty of short leases in Duffield. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the premises for a prescribed time frame. As the lease shortens the marketability of the lease deteriorate and it becomes more expensive to acquire a lease extension. For this reason it is often a good idea to extend the lease term. It is often difficulties arise selling premises with a short lease because mortgage companies less inclined to grant a loan on such properties. Lease enfranchisement can be a difficult process. We advise that you get professional assistance from a solicitor and surveyor with experience in this field

Last month I purchased a leasehold flat in Duffield. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous lessee and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Duffield conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?

If you are instructing a property lawyer for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Duffield conveyancing practice) it is imperative that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of work. We suggested that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Duffield conveyancing practices before you instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions could be helpful:

• How experienced is the practice with lease extension legislation?

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

Where a Duffield lease has no more than 80 years it will impact the marketability of the apartment. Check with your lender that they are willing to lend given the lease term. Leases with less than 80 years remaining means that you will almost definitely have to extend the lease sooner rather than later and it is worth discovering what this will be. Remember, in most cases you will be required to have owned the property for two years in order to be legally able to extend the lease. Most Duffield leasehold apartments will incur a service bill for maintenance of the block levied on behalf of the landlord. Where you purchase the flat you will have to pay this charge, usually quarterly throughout the year. This can be anything from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built blocks. In all likelihood there will be a rentcharge to be met annual, ordinarily this is not a exorbitant sum, say approximately £50-£100 but you should to enquire it because on occasion it can be prohibitively expensive. Its a good idea to find out as much as you can regarding the company managing the building as they will impact your use and enjoyment of the property. Being a leasehold owner you will be at the mercy of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to practical matters such as the tidiness of the common parts. Don't be shy to ask prospective neighbours what they think of them. Finally, find out the dates that you are obliged pay the service charge to the managing agents and specifically what it includes.

Other Topics

Lease Extensions in Duffield