Buying Freehold From Duke Of Norfolk

[stylefree 14]

Thinking of buying freehold on our house but cannot find contact details for duke of norfolk 

Ground rent has never been requested .

Any help appreciated as been quoted £200 per hour just to get process started to find these details so advised to try and find these details so request can be made to start process 

Thanks 

[Tony 10]

Contact Fowler Sandford.

[Jeffrey Shaw 90]

On 17/07/2020 at 10:20, stylefree said:

Thinking of buying freehold on our house but cannot find contact details for duke of norfolk 

Ground rent has never been requested .

Any help appreciated as been quoted £200 per hour just to get process started to find these details so advised to try and find these details so request can be made to start process 

Thanks 

If you've never been billed, how do you know for sure that the Duke of Norfolk owns the freehold reversion?

You could start with HM Land Registry and see if the freehold reversion is registered or not.

See https://eservices.landregistry.gov.uk/eservices/FindAProperty/view/QuickEnquiryInit.do

but look for the freehold title- under a title number different from your own leasehold.

[stylefree 14]

Any ideas on what the procedure is or how to go about it 

i.e. do you have to  write letters or fill in some forms etc

and how long might it take

[Jeffrey Shaw 90]

3 hours ago, stylefree said:

Any ideas on what the procedure is or how to go about it 

i.e. do you have to  write letters or fill in some forms etc

and how long might it take

Yes, I do. This is part of my business, of course.

A valid Notice of Claim is needed. How long it takes? Ah, that's like a 'piece of string' question.

But usually it takes months (not weeks) from start to completion; then up to a year in registration of title.

[geared 302]

On 03/08/2020 at 13:41, stylefree said:

Any ideas on what the procedure is or how to go about it 

i.e. do you have to  write letters or fill in some forms etc

and how long might it take

 

If you're trying to sell a house you can put in the notice of claim and then pass it on to the buyer, saving them a couple of years waiting around to buy it themselves.

Jeffrey will know the details, being a solicitor in this field.

[stylefree 14]

is it worth waiting a few years, hoping leasehold reform might make some changes and make it easier to acquire freehold?

[Jeffrey Shaw 90]

5 hours ago, stylefree said:

is it worth waiting a few years, hoping leasehold reform might make some changes and make it easier to acquire freehold?

That depends on:

a. how long it will take for any new legislation to be drafted AND debated AND enacted AND brought into force (likely to be at least 3yrs but probably more); and

b. how many years are unexpired on the existing lease (if < 81, get cracking without delay and don't worry about whether any such legislation ever emerge; you've much more to lose right now!)

[topflat29 10]

To find the name of  current freeholder, check the property title at Land Registry Online by entering your postcode address  and you will be offered choice of "freehold title" or "Leasehold title".        You can buy a copy by paying £3  using your  credit card and download  the  freehold  title.  Avoid the fake  websites which look like Land Registry and will charge  more.    If the current freeholder is a limited  company, check the  company registration at Companies House website.

 

To find the procedure for buying the freehold of leasehold houses , download the  free guide from LEASE website.  : 

 

https://www.lease-advice.org/faq/i-own-a-leasehold-house-how-do-i-buy-the-freehold/

 

https://www.lease-advice.org/advice-guide/houses-qualification-valuation/

 

Do study the second website link  which gives the  links to  the  2  application forms

Edited October 25, 2020 by topflat29

[topflat29 10]

The Law Commission posted this on their website  at 21 July 2020.

 

https://www.lawcom.gov.uk/millions-of-leaseholders-to-benefit-from-law-commission-reforms/

 

Professor Nick Hopkins, Commissioner for property law said:

“The leasehold system is not working for millions of homeowners in England and Wales. We have heard how the current law leaves them feeling like they don’t truly own their home.

“Our reforms will make a real difference by giving leaseholders greater control over their homes, offering a cheaper and easier route out of leasehold, and establishing commonhold as the preferred alternative system. The reforms will provide a better deal for leaseholders and make our homes work for us, and not somebody else.”

[Jeffrey Shaw 90]

On 25/10/2020 at 06:44, topflat29 said:

To find the name of  current freeholder, check the property title at Land Registry Online by entering your postcode address  and you will be offered choice of "freehold title" or "Leasehold title".        You can buy a copy by paying £3  using your  credit card and download  the  freehold  title.  Avoid the fake  websites which look like Land Registry and will charge  more.

 

Yes. The real website for HMLR is at https://eservices.landregistry.gov.uk/eservices/FindAProperty/view/QuickEnquiryInit.do

[topflat29 10]

Stylefree ,

 

What is the  annual ground rent  and  number of years left on your  lease ?