Fixed-fee leasehold conveyancing in Northwich:

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Common questions relating to Northwich leasehold conveyancing

I am in need of some leasehold conveyancing in Northwich. Before diving in I would like to find out the number of years remaining on the lease.

If the lease is registered - and most are in Northwich - 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.

I’m about to sell my basement apartment in Northwich.Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been instructed but I have just received a yearly service charge demand – Do I pay up?

The sensible thing to do is discharge 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 unless 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.

Back In 2001, I bought a leasehold house in Northwich. Conveyancing and Clydesdale mortgage went though with no issue. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the reversionary interest in the property. Attached was a demand for arrears of ground rent dating back to 1994. The conveyancing solicitor in Northwich who acted for me is not around.Do I pay?

First make enquiries of HMLR to be sure that the individual claiming to own the freehold is indeed the registered owner of the freehold reversion. You do not need to instruct a Northwich conveyancing practitioner to do this as it can be done on-line for less than a fiver. Rest assured that in any event, even if this is the legitimate freeholder, under the Limitation Act 1980 the limitation period for recovery of ground rent is six years.

What are your top tips when it comes to choosing a Northwich conveyancing firm to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

When appointing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Northwich conveyancing firm) it is most important that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We recommend that you speak with several firms including non Northwich conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then so much the better. Some following of questions might be helpful:

  • If they are not ALEP accredited then why not?
  • What are the legal fees for lease extension conveyancing?

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

    • A significant proportion of the frustration in leasehold conveyancing in Northwich can be bypassed where you appoint lawyers as soon as your agents start advertising the property and ask them to put together the leasehold documentation which will be required by the buyers representatives.
    • Many freeholders or managing agents in Northwich levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold property. You or your lawyers should find out the fee that they propose to charge. The management information can be applied for as soon as you have a buyer, thus accelerating the process. The typical amount of time it takes to receive management information is three weeks. It is the most common cause of delay in leasehold conveyancing in Northwich.
  • If you have carried out any alterations to the residence would they have required Landlord’s consent? In particular have you installed wooden flooring? Northwich leases often stipulate that internal structural changes or installing wooden flooring calls for a licence issued by the Landlord consenting to such alterations. Should you dont have the paperwork in place you should not communicate with the landlord without checking with your solicitor before hand.
  • If you have had conflict with your freeholder or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved prior to the flat being put on the market. The buyers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a flat where there is a current dispute. You will have to accept that you will have to discharge any arrears of service charge or settle 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 will still have to reveal details of the dispute to the buyers, but it is clearly preferable to reveal the dispute as over as opposed to unsettled.
  • If you are supposed to have a share in the freehold, you should make sure that you are holding the original share certificate. Arranging a new share certificate can be a time consuming formality and slows down many a Northwich conveyancing transaction. If a new share is required, do contact the company director and secretary or managing agents (where applicable) for this sooner rather than later.

    • Leasehold Conveyancing in Northwich - A selection of Queries before buying

      What restrictions are contained in the Northwich Lease? Its a good idea to find out as much as possible about the company managing the building as they will either make living at the property much easier or a lot more difficult. Being a leasehold owner you are often in the clutches of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to daily matters like the upkeep of the communal areas. Enquire of other tenants whether they are happy with their management. On a final note, be sure you know the dates that the maintenance fees are due to the appropriate party and precisely what you get for your money. You should be aware that where the lease has no more than 80 years it will impact the value of the apartment. It is worth checking with your bank that they are content with remaining years on the lease. A short lease means that you will almost definitely require a lease extension at some point and you need to have some idea of what this would cost. Remember, in most cases you would need to own the premises for two years in order to be entitled to extend the lease.

    Other Topics

    Lease Extensions in Northwich