Please explain the implications if my solicitor is expelled from the Nottingham Solicitor panel ahead of completing my conveyancing in Chatteris?
First, this is very unlikely to happen. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have to instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by a regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit at a cost.
Will our lawyer be making enquiries concerning flooding during the conveyancing in Chatteris.
Flooding is a growing risk for conveyancers dealing with homes in Chatteris. There are those who purchase a house in Chatteris, fully expectant that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, leaving to one side the physical destruction, where a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, suitable insurance cover, or sell the property. Steps can be carried out as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.
Conveyancers are not qualified to impart advice on flood risk, but there are a number of checks that can be undertaken by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which will give them a better appreciation of the risks in Chatteris. The standard completed inquiry forms given to a buyer’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) includes a usual question of the seller to determine if the premises has suffered from flooding. If the property has been flooded in past which is not revealed by the seller, then a buyer could issue a claim for damages as a result of such an misleading response. A buyer’s conveyancers may also order an environmental report. This should disclose whether there is a recorded flood risk. If so, further investigations will need to be conducted.
I used Wolstenholmes several years past for my conveyancing in Chatteris. I now require my papers but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?
You should 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 Chatteris of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously used, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
How does conveyancing in Chatteris differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Chatteris contact us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is finished. This is because new home sellers in Chatteris usually 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 conveyancers 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Chatteris or who has acted in the same development.
I opted to have a survey carried out on a property in Chatteris in advance of appointing conveyancers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold element to the property. My surveyor advised that some mortgage companies tend not issue a loan on such a premises.
It varies from the lender to lender. Bank of Scotland has different requirements for example to Nationwide. If you call us we can check with the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Chatteris. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Chatteris to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.
My folks are unable to locate their Chatteris property on the HM Land Registry online search facility. They recall that back in the 70’s when they acquired the house there were complications with Chatteris not being identified on some systems.
Nearly all residences in Chatteris should be revealed. Have you tried a search to simply the postcode. Usually it should mention all the houses and flats within the postcode. Assuming the property is registered it will be there with a title number. If they bought back in the 60’s it's conceivable it may be unregistered. The property might still be revealed but with the title number shown 'na'. In this scenario you will need to find the original title papers which may be with your parent’s mortgage company.