I own a freehold house in Canton but nevertheless pay rent, why is this and what is this?
It is rare for properties in Canton and has limited impact for conveyancing in Canton but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.
Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of fresh rentcharges from 1977 onwards.
Previous rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence after 2037 is to be dispensed with completely.
I am about to put an offer on a leasehold flat in Canton. The selling agents say that it is the norm for flats in Canton to have less than 75 years remaining. I am expecting a mortgage with Virgin. Will the property be mortgageable given that the lease has 70 years remaining.
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 15/11/2026 the requirements read as follows :
Will our conveyancer be raising questions about flooding as part of the conveyancing in Canton.
The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for lawyers dealing with homes in Canton. There are those who buy a property in Canton, fully expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, suitable insurance cover, or sell the property. Steps can be carried out as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.
Conveyancers are not best placed to impart advice on flood risk, however there are a various checks that can be undertaken by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which should give them a better understanding of the risks in Canton. The conventional set of information sent to a buyer’s conveyancer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) incorporates a standard inquiry of the owner to find out if the property has suffered from flooding. In the event that the premises has been flooded in past which is not notified by the vendor, then a buyer may issue a claim for damages as a result of such an inaccurate reply. A buyer’s conveyancers should also order an environmental search. This will higlight whether there is any known flood risk. If so, more detailed inquiries will need to be initiated.
How does conveyancing in Canton differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build property in Canton contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is completed. This is because developers in Canton usually purchase the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Canton or who has acted in the same development.
Due to the guidance of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Canton ahead of retaining conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold element to the house. My surveyor has said that some mortgage companies will not issue a loan on such a premises.
It varies from the lender to lender. Lloyds has different requirements from Nationwide. Should you wish to telephone us we can check with the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Canton. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Canton to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.
Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on our sale of a £150,000 maisonette in Canton next week. The landlords agents has quoted £408 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and previous years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge exorbitant fees for a flat conveyance in Canton?
Canton conveyancing on leasehold apartments often involves the purchaser’s solicitor submitting questions for the landlord to address. Although the landlord is not legally bound to address these enquiries the majority will be willing to assist. They are at liberty to invoice a reasonable administration fee for answering questions or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average costs for the paperwork that you are referring to is £350, in some situations it is above £800. The administration charge required by the landlord must be sent together with a synopsis of entitlements and obligations in relation to administration fees, without which the charge is not strictly payable. In reality you have no option but to pay whatever is demanded if you want to sell the property.
I inherited a 1 bedroom flat in Canton, conveyancing formalities finalised in 2012. Can you shed any light on how much the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease? Equivalent properties in Canton with an extended lease are worth £181,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £55 levied per year. The lease finishes on 21st October 2077
With just 51 years remaining on your lease we estimate the price of your lease extension to span between £30,400 and £35,200 plus legals.
The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to advice on a more accurate figure without more detailed due diligence. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional issues that need to be considered and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action based on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.