I am the registered owner of a freehold property in Benfleet but nevertheless invoiced for rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Benfleet and has limited impact for conveyancing in Benfleet 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 hundreds of years, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the creation of new rentcharges post 1977.

Old rentcharges can now be redeemed 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 used Action Conveyancing several years ago for my conveyancing in Benfleet. Now, I need my documents however the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?

Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Benfleet of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I'm converting the mortgage on my existing property to a buy to let mortgage with Accord Mortgages Ltd and I will use the rest of the raised equity as a down payment on further property. The area we are talking about is Benfleet. Will your conveyancers be able to act for both sets of lenders and link together the two deals?

Make use of our search tool on this page to ensure that the conveyancers are on the appropriate lender panels. Assuming that they are your lawyer should be able to simultaneously deal with the two conveyancing matters but you should have a chat with you solicitor and make apparent your expectations and needs.

My partner has recommend that I use his conveyancing solicitors in Benfleet. Do I follow his advice?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Benfleet conveyancing lawyer the best way to select a conveyancing lawyer is to seek referrals from friends or relatives who have used the firm that you are contemplating using.

Back In 2006, I bought a leasehold flat in Benfleet. Conveyancing and Chelsea Building Society mortgage organised. A letter has just been received from someone claiming to own the freehold. It included a ground rent demand for rent dating back to 1995. The conveyancing practitioner in Benfleet who acted for me is not around. Do I pay?

The first thing you should do is make enquiries of HMLR to make sure that this person is indeed the new freeholder. You do not need to incur the fees of a Benfleet conveyancing solicitor to do this as you can do this on the Land Registry website for a few pound. You should note that regardless, even if this is the legitimate landlord, under the Limitation Act 1980 no more than 6 years of rent can be collected.

I purchased a garden flat in Benfleet, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. Can you shed any light on how much the price could be for a 90 year extension to my lease? Similar flats in Benfleet with a long lease are worth £185,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £65 invoiced every year. The lease finishes on 21st October 2085

You have 61 years left to run the likely cost is going to range between £18,100 and £20,800 plus costs.

The figure above a general guide to costs for renewing a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. You should not use the figures in a Notice of Claim or as an informal offer. There are no doubt other 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 placing reliance on this information before seeking the advice of a professional.