landlord's standard leasehold information pack?

seashore22

Can anyone please tell me what a landlord's standard leasehold information pack is?

We are in the process of selling a flat jointly bought by 3 siblings and lived in by a dependant relative. We have just had a letter stating that the purchaser's solictor has requested this pack and asking for a fee of £234.

Bit annoyed because we are supposed to be paying an all in price for selling this flat and now having additional charges added. We will look into that later however.

Just wanted to know exactly what we are paying for. I assume it comes from the management company?

Thanks.

G_M

You own a lease which are planning to sell.

Presumably this is a lease on a flat. There is a freehold for the building owned (probobly) by someone else. They maintain the building (or perhaps employ a management company to maintain it on their behalf) - covering insurance, paying communal electricity charges, roof maintenance et etc.

The buyer of your flat (lease) want confirmation from the freeholder/managing agent that the insurance is up to date, that you have been paying the annual service charges etc etc

The 'landlord's standard leaseholder info pack' will contain all these details.

The freeholder (otherwise known as 'landlord') or his agent will charge a fee o provide this info to your soliciotr for your buyer.

seashore22

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, that's pretty much what I thought it would be. Good to have it confirmed though.

Just feeling a bit picky because we are probably paying over the odds for a fixed price sale and it's turning out not to be so "fixed price". Will go and check the contract now.

G_M

The 'fixed price' relates to your solicitor's fees.

3rd party fees (disbursements) are outside your solicitor's control. HE is not charging you - the freeholder is!

seashore22

Yes, when I think about it logically, I know you're right. Will be so happy when this flat is sold!

thelem

Who is the fee going to?

Your wording suggested it is going to the buyer's solicitors, although that seems unlikely - that's a cost your buyer would be responsible for.

If it's going to your solicitors and they knew the property was leasehold when they gave you the fixed quote (and I would expect them to - it's a very basic question), then I'd be objecting that you were mis-quoted. Leasehold properties are extra work, so a higher charge is fair enough, but should have been stated up front.

If it is a charge being levied by the freeholder then they are entitled to do that, although it does seem a bit steep. Others may be able to advise if it's a reasonable fee.

seashore22

Thanks for that.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. The money is going to our solicitor. I believe that they are obtaining the pack from the management company and the charge of £234 has been set by the MC. It does seem a bit excessive though. The pack has been requested by our buyers solicitor.

We are phoning the solicitor tomorrow about something else and will query it with them.

The estate agents/solicitors are charging £2,500 for marketing property and solicitors fees. Property is approx £60,000. Disregarding these extra charges, does this seem very excessive? Don't mind paying a bit more than the average and it's too late to change now.

thelem

I meant who is it ultimately going to. You may be sending a cheque to the solictor but if the charge is set by the MC then they will be passing that money straight on.

seashore22

Yes. Assume it's going straight to management company. For various reasons I'm not surprised that the charge is expensive!