Do the conveyancing solicitors Indexed on your site conduct auction conveyancing in Downton?
There are a number of auction lawyers we can put you in touch with those who can conduct auction conveyancing. Downton is just one of the many locations where our lawyers have offices.
Can you explain why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Downton costs more?
Downton leasehold conveyancing transactions usually involve additional investigations than freeholds including investigating the Lease, liaising with the Landlord such as serving applicable notices on the Landlord or managing agent, obtaining up-to-date service charge and management information, obtaining Landlord’s consents and reviewing management accounts and formation documents.
We have agreed to purchase a house in Downton. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. HSBC have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
As your lender is HSBC your lawyer must check the conveyancing instructions contained in Part two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for HSBC. The CML Handbook stipulates minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancers are required to report to HSBC where a lease fails to meet these provisions. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not restricted to Downton.
I have paid off my mortgage with Barclays. I assume I don't need a Downton conveyancing practitioner on the Barclays panel to discharge the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?
If you have finished paying off your Barclays mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Barclays mortgage from the register. Barclays, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
- but are not moving to another property
- where Barclays has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
- Barclays has instructed the Land Registry to do so
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Downton. I have a mortgage offer with HSBC. 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 use 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 HSBC, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the HSBC conveyancing panel.
Will my solicitor be raising enquiries about flooding during the conveyancing in Downton.
Flooding is a growing risk for conveyancers dealing with homes in Downton. There are those who buy a property in Downton, fully aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical damage, where a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, adequate building insurance, or sell the property. Steps can be carried out during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the buyer.
Solicitors are not qualified to offer advice on flood risk, but there are a numerous checks that can be undertaken by the purchaser or on a buyer’s behalf which will give them a better appreciation of the risks in Downton. The conventional set of property information forms given to a buyer’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) includes a standard question of the owner to find out if the property has suffered from flooding. If flooding has previously occurred which is not notified by the owner, then a buyer could bring a compensation claim stemming from an misleading answer. A buyer’s lawyers will also conduct an enviro search. This should reveal if there is any known flood risk. If so, more detailed inquiries will need to be made.
My husband and I are one month into a freehold purchase having been recommend to conveyancers by the high street agent to carry out the conveyancing in Downton. I am am starting to be disappointed with the quality of service. Can you help me find new lawyers?
A solicitor would have to be really bad to suggest changing them. Has the loan offer been sent? If so you need to inform them of the new lawyer and have the mortgage documents are re-sent. Your solicitor ideally should be on the mortgage company approved list to avoid escalating charges and delays. That should be your first question of the new lawyers. Our find a solicitor tool should help you find a bank approved conveyancer for your home move in Downton
My parents are encountering problems in finding their Downton land registry title on the online search facility. They have a vague recollection 50 years ago when they purchased the house there were complications with the address not being recognised in some systems.
Almost all residences in Downton should show up. Have you endevoured to search with just the postcode. Ordinarily it will identify all the houses and flats within the postcode. Assuming the property is recorded it will show up with a title number. Where they bought back in the 70’s it's conceivable it may be unregistered. The address could still be revealed but with the title number shown 'na'. In this scenario you will need to find the original title deeds which could be with your parent’s lender.