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Council charging fortune for Garden Lease

Hi,

I purchased my first house a few years ago and got well and truly caught out. turns out the garden isn't part of the house and is a separate parcel of land, owned by my council. my crappy online conveyancer didn't notice and nor did I.

The previous lease had run out in 2000 and the council had not noticed but shortly after I moved in they popped up saying they wanted to organise a new lease and me to pay all their fees:mad:.

It's dragged on for a few years, because they wanted all the houses on the row to agree and some have been awkward, but they've finally settled on a long (99yr) leasehold with £1000 premium and £1200 fees. I'm looking to move so don't have much appetite to drag it out with haggling but I want to make sure that the lease I arrange with them will be as smooth and painless as possible when I come to sell.

any advice on solicitor vs conveyancer for this type of thing? anything to look out for?

thanks in advance,
Scourge90

Comments

  • eddddy
    eddddy Posts: 18,175 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hi Scourge90

    You might get a better deal if a whole group of you and your neighbours get together and instruct the same solicitor to do all their leases at the same time.
    scourge90 wrote: »
    ...
    my crappy online conveyancer didn't notice and nor did I.
    ...

    Typically, conveyancers/solicitors won't pick up this kind of thing. They never visit the property, so cannot compare the title plan to the apparent garden.

    Normally, they will specifically ask you to check that the plan is correct and corresponds to what you think you are buying.
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