Intermediate Lease

<p>Thank you that Adam</p> <p>I am unsure why the paperwork and legal deed re the transfer of the freehold are inconclusive? Am I just stupid? I just can’t get my head around this. The freehold’s of properties around here have been sold for years and nobody else seemed to have a problem. Our neighbours house sold just last year. All the freehold sales were done by Wilkins Chapman, although they no longer deal with the collection of the ground rent, our neighbours property is still leasehold and they pay ground rent to Jackson Green &amp; Partners. We have never received any communication from anyone regarding ground rent or anything else.</p> <p>The paperwork I had showed the freehold as being sold in December 2006, it was witnessed by Wilkins Chapman.</p> <p>Is there any way a member of the legal team could ring me? We really need some sort of timescale, if we had that we might be able to keep our buyers inside but time is running out.</p>

Amanda - I don't get the sense that you are 'stupid' at all<br> The key to all registration and land ownership is that legal ownership has to be conveyed/transferred by way of a legal deed. If there isn't one then problems arise&#160;<br> The issue the solicitors have identified dates back to 2007 when it would appear that the freehold was bought and transferred to the then leaseholders but the leasehold title was not fully closed at the time and remains linked.<br> Whilst what's happened locally is relevant as a number of freeholds have been bought and their leases closed (determined) that doesn't mean others follow suit automatically.<br> So all the years you have owned the property, not paid ground rent etc are all very real and true for you but none of that changes the registered information in itself.&#160;<br> What I believe has happened here is that the link the solicitor has identified does not actually exist and it isn't your freehold title that requires amendment. It is the larger/wider freehold that remains re some of the neighbouring properties that needs updating and the 'link' identified removed.<br> However that is simply my reading of the matter and one I have shared with the casework team/lawyer considering the request from the solicitor<br> So certainly not 'stupid' on your part and I can fully understand why it can appear baffling from where you are in the process and with the information you have.&#160;<br> There is nobody who can ring you ate this stage. Everyone you have contacted to date, spoken to and who the solicitor has done the same with are not the ones who can make the consideration and agree next steps.<br> Your speaking to anyone will not change the position and all they can do is explain what's happening with the process.&#160;<br> I know that seems incredibly harsh and perhaps 'stupid' on my part but as soon as a lawyer has done their part of the process we will know more.<br> That will be today and should be this morning<br> HS335386<br> &#160;

Thank you again Adam<br> <br> You explained it very well and I have a better understanding of things now.<br> <br> I hope to hear from you later with some more news.

<p>Our buyers have just pulled the plug.</p>

Amanda - I am truly sorry to read that.<br> I am still pursuing our lawyers for a direct response&#160;<br> HS335386

<p>If you can continue to do that, we are remarketing and need this issue sorted soonest.</p> <p>We are obviously very upset that all this should have been sorted by now and it’s cost us legal fees so we will probably be lodging another complaint in regard to that.</p>

<p>Posted twice</p>

Amanda - the casework team now have directions to go back to the solicitor to explain that there is no error, no actual link to the leasehold title referred to and that they can rely on the freehold registered information&#160;<br> The team will also remove the link between the two titles in our systems that triggered the solicitor to raise it as an issue&#160;<br> The explanation I provided earlier explains how the link occurred and the 'error' highlighted by the solicitor<br> That will be remedied but nothing needs to change re your own property/title and registered information<br> I hope that you are able to find a new or even resurrect the pulled buyer and I am again truly sorry for how the issue has played out with us at HMLR<br> HS335386

Thank you so much Adam&#160;<br> <br> It is just such a shame our buyers didn’t give us until Monday like thy agreed to. I have copied your post to them but not sure we can get them back on board.<br> <br> I really do appreciate all your help even if I have come across as a grumpy so and so at times. At least the issue will be rectified in time for if we get another buyer,<br> <br> Amanda&#160;

Amanda - you are being much kinder, far from grumpy, than I might have expected here. The solicitor has been advised of the registration position and assured that there are no issues re the freehold registration.<br> The background information that caused the uncertainty/issue has also been remedied so will not occur again<br> It will be of little solace for you both after what has transpired but my experiences of dealing with others on the forum in similar buyer pulling out scenarios is that all is not lost at times. And perhaps more relevantly we are all human at HMLR and do care when people contact us in need of our help. Where we have let you down is in the speed of dealing with the matter as raised and resolving it for you, the solicitor and others involved.<br> The length of time taken is not the norm but that is of absolutely zero use to you either then or now of course.<br> I wish you and your husband well, improved health and either a resurrected buyer or brand new one asap and whatever property needs come next they are not as stressful and painful as this one has been for you both<br> I will capture and refer our forum engagement and include it in the complaint/claim when raised. Please feel free to post again to share the complaint reference<br> After that I will remove the thread and posts for your own privacy and it will provide no answers for others looking for specific assistance in the forum&#160;<br> Again - Sorry

<p>Adam</p> <p>Our solicitor has received the letter, and forwarded to our non buyers solicitors, the government website now only shows the freehold title, I have sent everything to our non buyers but as yet, radio silence from them, they could of course be busy after completing on their sale today or they could be waiting to speak to their solicitor or financial adviser, time will tell I guess.</p> <p>Once again, thank you for your assistance, if you’d like to provide me with an email address for your line manager I would very much like to let them know how helpful you have been.</p> <p>Amanda&#160;</p>

Amanda - that all reads reasonably positive and hopefully they are back on side soon<br> It's very kind of you to offer feedback and you can do that through the contact form you have already used or a new one if you prefer. If you are going to complain then please include and let me know the reference obtained as I can then add a record of the forum thread to that record also<br> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-guidance-dealing-with-land-and-property#contact-form">Public guidance: dealing with land and property - GOV.UK</a>&#160;<br> Everything is crossed for you both at my end and hopefully the buyers stick to their guns re completing the purchase now as a result<br> HS335386

<p>Adam</p> <p>Sadly our buyers seem to have just wasted our time, I tried to reason with them and he hung up on me after telling me to not contact them again, he’s a right charmer, so it’s back with the for sale board and hope we can get another buyer quickly else our purchase is going to fall through as well, at least we know this problem won’t crop up again.</p> <p>No need for another complaint to be raised but I will definitely leave some positive feedback for you as you really have been so very helpful.</p> <p>Amanda&#160;</p>

Amanda - so sorry to read that and sadly it can happen with some buyers. I'll add a record of this thread to the existing complaint record to assist colleagues in their replies as appropriate<br> And I will keep everything crossed that you find a new buyer and quickly and that the sale/purchase process is much more positive for you&#160;<br> No need to reply here and I will remove the thread in time as it is unique to you and to retain a degree of privacy&#160;<br> HS335386