My husband and I are planning to buy a 3 bedroom flat in Blaby with a mortgage. We have a Blaby solicitor, however the mortgage company says he's not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the lender panel firms or keep our Blaby conveyancing practitioner and pay for one of their panel lawyers to act for them. This feels very unfair; are we not able to require that the lender use our Blaby solicitor ?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the bank’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your Blaby conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
We see that you have a post code search directory listing law firms on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel. Do companies pay you a referral fee if I appoint them for our own conveyancing in Blaby?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Blaby.
I have a terraced Victorian house in Blaby. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and The Royal Bank of Scotland. I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw two entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold with the matching property. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?
You should assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Blaby and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also check the position with your conveyancing solicitor who conducted the conveyancing.
I am using a search engine for the phrase on line conveyancing in Blaby it reveals many conveyancerslocally. With so much choice what is the best way to find the right property lawyer for me?
The best method of finding the right conveyancer is through a trusted referral, so ask colleagues and those you trust who have purchased a property in Blaby or the reputable estate agent or mortgage broker. Costs for conveyancing in Blaby differ, so it's advisable to secure at least three estimates from different property lawyers. Make sure that you know what costs in the quote includes.
Having had my offer accepted I require leasehold conveyancing in Blaby. Before I set the wheels in motion I would like to find out the remaining lease term.
If the lease is registered - and 99.9% are in Blaby - then the leasehold title will always include the short particulars of the lease, namely the date; the term; and the original parties. From a conveyancing perspective such details then enable any prospective buyer and lender to confirm that any lease they are looking at is the one relevant to that title. For any other purpose, such as confirming how long the term was granted for and calculating what is left, then the register should be sufficient on it's own.
Leasehold Conveyancing in Blaby - Examples of Questions you should ask Prior to Purchasing
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How long is the Lease? This question is important as a) areas may result in problems in the block as the common areas may begin to deteriorate where maintenance remain unpaid b) if the leasehold owners have an issue with the managing agents you will want to know about it Who manages the building?
My husband and I are first time buyers just having agreed a price on a property in Blaby, and are now looking to get solicitors instructed. I have utilised the various rating tools and the quotes are from all across the country. Is it essential to have a Blaby lawyer local to your prospective house? We are willing to do everything electronically, but I am thinking at some stage we may need to attend the conveyancing practitioner's office to sign papers?
The lawyer does not have to be in Blaby, but opting for local means that you have the option to attend their offices if you need to, by way of example, if a signature is immediately necessary. In addition, a Blaby solicitor have established relationships with local agents and (if the vendor has instructed a local property lawyer) with them, which will help smooth the process.