Beneficiary and Executor of a leasehold flat

Fedupbeneficiary

I have inherited a retirement leasehold flat. Probate has been obtained. A form has been submitted by the Solicitor to the Land Registry adding my name to the title. Now I am being asked to pay £320 for a Buyers Pack from E&M Estates and Management Ltd. I am not purchasing the flat, so why am I being asked to pay this amount?  Is it not possible for E&M Estates and Management to replace my mother's name with my name? I have been paying the service charge and ground rent for 18 months even though the Estate has not been settled.

david29dpo

More than likely the usual ripoff management companys fees. Very common.
Push it and see what happens.

Keep_pedalling

How old are you? These retched things usually can only be owned if you are over a certain age.

anselld

Are you keeping the flat or trying to sell it?  It is not necessary to move the flat into your name if you are trying to sell anyway.

eddddy

Fedupbeneficiary said:

Is it not possible for E&M Estates and Management to replace my mother's name with my name? I have been paying the service charge and ground rent for 18 months even though the Estate has not been settled.

Just to clarify - I assume you're saying that ownership of the flat is being transferred to you.

I suspect that the requirement for a 'buyer's pack' in these circumstances is stated in the lease - if it isn't, your solicitor should have automatically challenged it (but you can check that with your solicitor).


I suspect that "buyer's pack" is an informal name for dealing with a Notice of Transfer, and perhaps a Deed of Covenant. 

A Notice of Transfer is almost always required by the lease when ownership of a leasehold property is transferred. And a Deed of Covenant is sometimes required.

BridgetTheCat

Keep_pedalling said:

How old are you? These retched things usually can only be owned if you are over a certain age.

Not strictly true. For McCarthy Stone for example the restriction is on the resident’s age, not the owner’s. I could inherit my parents’ flat tomorrow, but I couldn’t live in it until I turn 60.