I am in the market for a low cost property lawyer. Should I go for for an internet conveyancer as opposed to a family Chafford Hundred conveyancing lawyer?
In the main conveyancing solicitors in your location will enjoy strong alliances with your local authority, which could assist with the Chafford Hundred conveyancing searches that your conveyancer will require. It can only be a plus if they have strong connections with the Local Land Registry Office your area Chafford Hundred, other conveyancers in the area and Chafford Hundred property agents.
All was ready to complete my purchase in Chafford Hundred next Monday. My conveyancing practitioner now wants me to supply her with evidence of content and building insurance for the property as he says that he has to check this in his capacity as lawyer for the mortgage company. What risks does the mortgage company expect the insurance to cover?
All property lawyers on acting for banks would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s Part 2 conditions. These requirements are not unique to conveyancing in Chafford Hundred.
What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Chafford Hundred? Is this really warranted?
Chafford Hundred conveyancing solicitors and indeed property lawyers accross the UK have a duty under money laundering regulations to check the identity of any client in order to satisfy themselves that clients are who they say they are.
Conveyancing clients will need to disclose two forms of certified ID; proof of ID (typically a Passport or Driving Licence) and proof of address (usually a Bank Statement no more than three months).
Evidence of the origin of monies is also required in compliance with the money laundering regulations as lawyers are duty bound to investigate that the funds you are utilising to purchase a property (be it the exchange deposit or the total purchase monies if you are a cash purchaser) has come from legitimate source (such as an inheritance) as opposed to the proceeds of criminal activity.
We have agreed to purchase a house in Chafford Hundred. One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Coventry BS be concerned?
As your lender is Coventry BS your lawyer must comply with the formal requirements outlined in Section two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Coventry BS. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and solicitors are required to report to Coventry BS where a lease does not satisfy these conditions. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales and is not isolated to Chafford Hundred.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Chafford Hundred off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Kent Reliance. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?
It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Kent Reliance, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel.
I recently had an offer accepted on a house in Chafford Hundred. My mortgage broker suggested a solicitor. I paid an upfront payment of £225. A couple of days later, the property lawyer called me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Clydesdale panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
A colleague advised me that where I am purchasing in Chafford Hundred I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?
A search of this type is occasionally quoted for as part of the standard Chafford Hundred conveyancing searches. It is a large document of about 40 pages, listing and setting out significant information about Chafford Hundred around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime statistics, Local Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data about Chafford Hundred.
I used Stirling Law a few years past for my conveyancing in Chafford Hundred. Now, I need my documents but the law firm has closed. What do I do?
Do call 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 Chafford Hundred of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously hired, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.