Lease/Deeds, confused!

Lisa1978

Hi all...

Really really confused! We bought our apartment 3 years ago. Last year we'd problems with our management company and went to court. We won but at the same time the Judge says that we should have a copy of our deeds (think deeds not lease???). Why would we need a copy of this? It may be because I had proof that we weren't down as shareholders, rather the guy we bought the house off was still on as a shareholder (after 2 years)!!

So, what should i have a copy off and why? I know my solicitor says he hasn't the deeds, they are with Alliance and Leicster.

thanks

pararct

Lisa1978 wrote: »

Hi all...

Really really confused! We bought our apartment 3 years ago. Last year we'd problems with our management company and went to court. We won but at the same time the Judge says that we should have a copy of our deeds (think deeds not lease???). Why would we need a copy of this? It may be because I had proof that we weren't down as shareholders, rather the guy we bought the house off was still on as a shareholder (after 2 years)!!

So, what should i have a copy off and why? I know my solicitor says he hasn't the deeds, they are with Alliance and Leicster.

thanks

Mortgage companies hold onto to such documents until such time as the loan is paid off.

TBH Deeds are not as important as they once were. They provide proof of ownership but for some years now this has also been the job of the Land Registry. You should be able to go to their website pay around £4.00 and download a document which shows your name against you property.

Richard_Webster

TBH Deeds are not as important as they once were. They provide proof of ownership but for some years now this has also been the job of the Land Registry. You should be able to go to their website pay around £4.00 and download a document which shows your name against you property.

£4 worth will show you own the leasehold of the flat in question.

Leases cost £24 from the LR. The lease sets out your responsibilities and those of the landlord/freeholder and of any separate management company if there is one (not be confused with managing agent).

Lisa1978

Richard_Webster wrote: »

£4 worth will show you own the leasehold of the flat in question.

Leases cost £24 from the LR. The lease sets out your responsibilities and those of the landlord/freeholder and of any separate management company if there is one (not be confused with managing agent).

Thank you both for the replies.
I am wondering if there is any point in getting this? What would i need it for? When we bought the apartment, our solicitor told us that it was not managed by anyone!! 3months later we found out that there was a management company (i believe company, not agent). We bought the apartment on 25th July and this company apparantely started managing us at the start of August - without our knowledge. From the onset, we disagreed with paying the bills as we hadn't agreed to having a management company, nor did we sign to have one. She therefore took us to court but she didn't have any evidence with her so the judge throw it out of court. I have proof that the last owner was named as a shareholder, not us.

However, as i am desperately hoping to move out in a year or two, we have started paying the debt off so that there will be no problems when it comes to the time to sell! Unsure whether we really need to pay the fees, as when we signed for the apartment we signed in the knowledge that no agency wld be in place. If we'd known we wldn't have bought the apartment as it's an extra £40/month! Thanks :)

PS, it is only a block of 5 apartments.

Richard_Webster

I am wondering if there is any point in getting this? What would i need it for? When we bought the apartment, our solicitor told us that it was not managed by anyone!!

It would be useful to know what obligations as to payments etc you do have in the lease and who it says you are supposed to pay. Remember sometimes a company or an agent acts quite lawfully on behalf of someone else who is actually entitled to collect money etc. You would need ot know who they are acting for.