Anyone experienced buying freehold?

[makingithappen]

NC was 2moveornot2move

We thought we were there before Christmas with our purchase. Then I realised that the solicitor hadn't mentioned anything about buying the freehold. Of course when I asked him he acted all surprised as if it was the first he had heard of it - even though the work is quoted for in his price! So now we are waiting for that to be sorted to complete at the same time as the sale.

Does anyone have any experience of how long it takes to purchase the freehold? We are currently waiting on the paperwork from the freeholders solicitor. I know it is a bit of a how long is a piece of string question but an idea of others experience would help.

What's the ground rent annually because for a 999 year lease commencing in 1936, it would 1. not usually be much cause for concern that it is leasehold; and 2. not be worth holding up the purchase in order to buy the leasehold at this stage.

Maybe notarise isn't the right word, but I just sold the flat incl the freehold and to transfer the freehold I had to go to a solicitor, with proof of ID and have them validate my ID. This also happened when the other freeholder sold their flat.

If the cost isn't much for a very long lease, I think it's well worth doing, since LH has had a very bad press lately, and although the facts of new LH properties may be very different (ripoff increasing ground rents etc,) the very fact of its being LH may put off buyers in future.

A lot of older properties came with those very long leases. FWIW my in laws bought the FH of their Edwardian house many decades ago, once the law was changed to give leaseholders the automatic right to buy the FH.

I'm not saying it isn't worth doing, I'm suggesting not letting it hold things up at this stage.

@wowfudge I agree. We are going to give it a week and if it is the only delay we are going to ask for it to run separately.

Hi - I wonder if you can help? Seen you respond to absent freeholder and buying the freehold on previous thread. I have no idea what the process is and how much it is likely to cost. (Freeholder absent for 27 yrs, not collected ground rent of service charges). He doesn't want to be found. Any advice? Thanks Am