I am need of leasehold conveyancing for an apartment in a fairly new development (five years old) in Crabtree. Almost all the flats have already been disposed of. Do I need carry out the conveyancing searches as part of conveyancing in Crabtree?

You are taking a significant risk in failing carrying out Crabtree conveyancing searches. Without searches you have no clarity over flooding, environmental etc which may mean you walk away due to potential problems down the line. If you are buying mortgage free there is no legal necessity to have them, but we would strongly advise in no uncertain terms that your lawyer conducts them. Where accelerating the process and expenses are top of your concerns you should consider with your lawyer about the viability of search insurance

It has been 3 months following my purchase conveyancing in Crabtree concluded. I have checked the Land Registry site which shows that I paid £150,000 when infact I paid £180,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the asset from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and found one near me in Crabtree I like with a park and station nearby, the downside is that it only has 51 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Crabtree in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?

Should you require a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term may be problematic. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the property for at least twenty four months you may ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor concerning this.

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only 72 years left on my lease in Crabtree. I am keen to extend my lease but my landlord is can not be found. What should I do?

On the basis that you qualify, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the County Court for an order to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will mean that your lease can be lengthened by the magistrate. You will be obliged to demonstrate that you have used your best endeavours to find the freeholder. For most situations an enquiry agent may be helpful to carry out a search and prepare an expert document which can be accepted by the court as evidence that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a solicitor in relation to investigating the landlord’s absence and the application to the County Court overseeing Crabtree.

Crabtree Leasehold Conveyancing - Sample of Queries before Purchasing

Be sure to find out if there is anything that is prohibited in the lease. For example plenty of leases prohibit pets being allowed in certain buildings in Crabtree. If you love the apartmentin Crabtree however your dog is not allowed to make the move with you then you have a very difficult determination. Its a good idea to find out as much as possible about the company managing the building as they will impact your use and enjoyment of the property. As the owner of a leasehold property you are frequently at the mercy of the managing agents both financially and when it comes to practical issues such as the cleanliness of the communal areas. Don't be afraid to ask prospective neighbours if they are happy with them. On a final note, be sure you understand the dates that the maintenance charges are due to the managing agents and precisely what you get for your money. How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their maintenance charge payments?

Why can I not complete our conveyancing in Crabtree on a bank holiday?

This is due to the fact that on completion the money needs to be transferred electronically between the banks of the buyer and owner’s conveyancer and at present this can only happen on a working day. It is not possible to complete on a weekend either.