Freehold House Sales
Purchase Your Freehold
Want to know more?
Our most frequently asked questions can be seen below, however, we would always encourage seeking independent, legal advice before proceeding.
Having your own independently appointed advisor is always recommended as this ensures your interests are maintained throughout the transaction.
If you do not appoint a solicitor, then you will be acting on your own behalf and you will need to review and approve the transfer document supplied by the landlord’s solicitor.
You will also need to have your ID verified by the landlord’s solicitor (provide original or certified copies) and will also need to deal with registering your interest post completion at the land registry.
If you appoint a solicitor, they will deal with all the above on your behalf. Unfortunately, we cannot advise you either way but suggest you research this to ensure you are comfortable.
If you decide to appoint your own solicitor, no funds are payable immediately to Freehold Managers PLC. We will receive an undertaking for the legal costs from your appointed solicitor whether or not the matter proceeds to completion. Your solicitor will usually ask you for funds to cover the legal costs in order to provide the undertaking to us. The premium and any outstanding ground rent will be payable at completion.
Your solicitor will do this for you at land registry. If you have chosen not to appoint a solicitor the process is less straightforward. You will need to apply to land registry yourself, with copies of your ID, the documents and forms supplied by our legal advisors along with a fee to the Land Registry for registration https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees
You will receive a copy of the Freehold Title in your name from your solicitor or if you have registered yourself direct from Land Registry.
As the landlord is disposing of their interest, the costs need to be borne by the applicant as a term of the offer. The costs are not built into the premium levels which assists in keeping this a competitive as possible. The landlord’s legal fees are non-negotiable.
If you have appointed a solicitor, then ground rent apportionment will take place at completion. This means that any over or under payments will be either deducted or added to the total amount payable at completion. If you are not appointing a solicitor full payment of the premium and legal costs are made upfront and there will be no apportionment of ground rent at completion.
