Freehold property with lease of services

[Notsureneverbloodysure]

Can anyone advise on this please? We are purchasing a property, c20 years old, built along with a couple of others on what was someone's garden. It is a freehold purchase, but looking at the detail of the pre exchange documents, the property has an 80 year lease of services/facilities which I think means water etc, from the people who originally sold the land. So now the lease is standing at 60 years. I don't believe there's any annual fee for the lease.

This has sent my alarm bells ringing as I have heard of issues with the 'clock' on leasehold properties running down and having to fork out to increase or purchase the freehold. But obviously this isn't exactly that, as it is to do with the services.

Thanks

Surely the person doing your conveyancing can answer this?

You would think!! They have been completely hopeless. Wont answer any questions at all by email, very wishy washy responses and wont pick up the phone. This is a large ish, albeit local, company too!

Switch then.
I'm a conveyancing solicitor but wouldn't advise on this sort of thing without seeing all the documents.

I think it is too late. We are supposed to be exchanging on monday but only received the pre exchange pack last week, I think that was an error on their part. We are fully intending to have a meeting with the partners on our dissatisfaction, but just wondered whether anyone has heard of this type of thing as we have not.

Are you sure the report says lease and not easements or deed of easement?

It says deed of grant, providing an 80 year limitation period for our rights to sewers etc within the land of the other property

Does it say "perpetuity period" anywhere? If so, it sounds like a normal deed giving you the rights to use any services laid within 80 years of the date of the deed forever.

If not, complain until someone at your conveyancers answers your question fully.

Yes it does! Thank you. Can you explain what that actually means please, what happens at the end of the 80 years?