I am purchasing a right to buy a flat in Berkeley. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Berkeley you will have to appoint a solicitor on your lender's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Berkeley.
When it comes to lenders such as Leeds Building Society, do Berkeley conveyancing practitioners incur a yearly amount to be on the list of approved solicitors?
We are not aware of any lender fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do charge an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel submission.
We have a mortgage agreed in principle with UBS. Berkeley conveyancing practitioners have been selected. How long does it take for UBS to send the offer to the property lawyer?
Some lenders take longer than others. Have UBS conducted the valuation? Have you advised UBS as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the UBS conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.
We have agreed to purchase a house in Berkeley. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Principality be concerned?
As your lender is Principality your lawyer must follow the formal instructions set out in Part 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Principality. The CML Handbook sets out minimum conditions for solar panel roof-space leases, and property lawyers are required to report to Principality where a lease does not meet these provisions. The conditions relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not limited to Berkeley.
The deeds to my house are lost. The conveyancers who dealt with the conveyancing in Berkeley 5 years ago are no longer around. What are my options?
You no longer need to hold title deeds to evidence that you are the registered proprietor of land or property, as the Land Registry have everything they need in a digital format.
How does conveyancing in Berkeley differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Berkeley contact us having been asked by the seller to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is completed. This is because new home sellers in Berkeley typically purchase the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Berkeley or who has acted in the same development.
Given that I will soon spend hundreds of thousands of pounds on a two bedroom apartment in Berkeley I wish to have a conversation with the conveyancer about mytransaction in advance of appointing the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?
We could not agree more - it is our preference to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you speaking to the conveyancer who will be carrying out your conveyancing in Berkeley.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is unique individual, not a case number. The practices that we put you in touch with believe that the fees you are calculated and presented to you for your conveyancing in Berkeley should be the figure that you end up paying.
My step-father has encouraged me to use his lawyers for conveyancing in Berkeley. Should I use them?
Much as we are happy to recommend a Berkeley conveyancing lawyer the best way to select a conveyancing solicitor is to get feedback from friends or family who have experience in using the solicitor that you are are thinking of instructing.