Given that we're not inundated with views on our new multi million pound strike force, I thought I'd ask you fellow lifers for some advice please.
We're in the process of buying a flat, the estate agents are saying it has a 90 year lease remaining but having paid to do a search on the land registry office, it says 999 years from 10 years ago. We've got solicitors looking into it but they haven't given us a definitive answer yet.
Anyone had a similar experience/know of an example where the land reg have been wrong/know of a reason why there might be a discrepancy?
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Flat leases are very often 99 years when set up which would (more or less) tie in with 90 years remaining if the land registry are saying 10 years have passed.
Estate Agents emphasise that their details are not guaranteed to be correct and that you should carry out your own checks. I suspect the agent asked the vendor how long was left on the lease and (s) he said it was new when we moved in about 10 years ago. The agent, not entirely unreasonably, has therefore assumed 10 years off a 99 year lease rounded up to make it look better!
Land Registry are more likely to be correct than the estate agent although I obviously cannot state that with categoric certainty!
(You can tell Henry has been on my case recently:-) )
http://www.lease-advice.org/
I have 72 years left on the lease and I am dealing with - possible - absentee freeholders (ive been trying to get hold of them for the last two years, however I feel they have either passed away/not living at last known address)
I had a survey done last month and the amount I have to pay is not as much as I first feared. the pain is trying to find a competent solicitor to take on the case. I just want it over and done with