Our mortgage company has recommended a law firm on their panel based in Bicester but I would rather use a conveyancing lawyer in Bicester or nearer to where I live. Can you assist?
Not all Bicester conveyancing firms are listed all lender’s conveyancing panel. Use the above find an approved solicitor tool to identify a Bicester conveyancing conveyancer on the on the bank panel.
Do I choose a Licenced Conveyancer or Solicitor for conveyancing in Bicester?
Two types of professional can execute conveyancing in Bicester namely CLC regulated conveyancers or solicitors. The two can provide the legal services that required to complete the sale or acquisition of property. Both are duty bound to conduct Bicester conveyancing to the same quality and guidelines so you may be safe in the knowledge that your conveyancing will be properly carried out and that all requirements and procedures should be appropriately taken.
We were going to get a DIP from Skipton this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Skipton recommend any Bicester solicitors on the Skipton conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?
You will need to appoint Bicester solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Skipton conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Skipton through the process.
It is not clear whether my bank requires a lease extension. I have telephoned my Bicester bank branch on a couple of occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they will lend. My Bicester conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- telephoned to say that they refuse to lend in accordance with their specific requirements. Who do I believe?
As long as the property lawyer is on the lender approved list, they must comply with the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook requirements for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the bank to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.
I used Action Conveyancing several years past for my conveyancing in Bicester. I now require my file but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?
You should contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Bicester of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build apartment in Bicester. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.
Set out below are examples of a few leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Bicester
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Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. The Vendor must covenant to keep unoccupied units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. Will control of the Management Company (if any) be handed over to purchasers on completion of the last sale or earlier? Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified.
Do you have any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Bicester from the perspective of expediting the sale process?
- A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Bicester can be bypassed where you appoint lawyers the minute your agents start marketing the property and request that they start to put together the leasehold information which will be required by the buyers’ representatives. If you have had any disputes with your landlord or managing agents it is essential that these are resolved before the property is marketed. The purchasers and their solicitors will be concerned about purchasing a flat where a dispute is unsettled. You may have to bite the bullet and pay any arrears of service charge or settle the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled ahead of the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You are still duty bound to disclose particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to present the dispute as over as opposed to ongoing. If you are supposed to have a share in the freehold, you should ensure that you are holding the original share certificate. Obtaining a new share certificate can be a lengthy formality and slows down many a Bicester home move. Where a duplicate share certificate is required, do contact the company director and secretary or managing agents (where relevant) for this as soon as possible. The majority of freeholders or Management Companies in Bicester levy fees for supplying management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should find out the fee that they propose to charge. The management information can be applied for on or before finding a buyer, thus reducing delays. The typical amount of time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most usual reason for delay in leasehold conveyancing in Bicester. A minority of Bicester leases require Licence to Assign from the landlord. If this is the case, it would be prudent to notify your estate agents to make sure that the purchasers obtain financial (bank) and professional references. The bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is financially capable of paying the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the service charge figures so that they can pass this information on to the purchasers or their lawyers.
Bicester Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Queries Prior to buying
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Make sure you investigate if the the lease includes any onerous restrictions in the lease. For instance some leases prohibit pets being allowed in in a block in Bicester. If you love the apartmentin Bicester but your cat can’t live with you then you will be faced hard decision. Does the lease contain onerous restrictions? How many of the leaseholders are in arrears for their maintenance charge payments?
I am due to assess costs for conveyancing in Bicester from numerous property lawyer and appoint one. Am I right to tell them to sit tight until I have found somewhere to purchase.
You should only get your conveyancer to start work and apply for searches once the sales memo has been sent by the estate agent especially as Bicester conveyancing searches are costly.