When reading consumer advice sites for a recommended solicitor in East Sussex, many say that I must instruct a CQS assured lawyer. What is CQS?
East Sussex Conveyancing Quality Scheme practices have achieved accreditation under the Law Society's Scheme (CQS) CQS was brought about to promote high standards in the home legal process. CQS enables house movers to recognise practices that provide a quality residential conveyancing. East Sussex is one of the many areas in England and Wales in which accredited firms have a presence. The scheme requires practices to undergo a strict assessment, compulsory training, self-reporting, random audits and yearly assessments in order to maintain CQS status. It is available to solicitors and not licensed conveyancers and has the support of the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
Last month we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Barclays. East Sussex conveyancing practitioners are instructed. How long does it take for Barclays to forward the offer to the lawyer?
Some lenders take longer than others. Have Barclays done the valuation? Have you informed Barclays as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the Barclays conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.
I recently had an offer accepted on a house in East Sussex. My financial adviser suggested a property lawyer. I paid an on account payment of £150. A couple of days later, the solicitor contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Barclays 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 Barclays 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.
Intending to buy a maisonette in East Sussex. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.
They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the East Sussex conveyancing practitioner is on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel.
Should our lawyer be raising enquiries concerning flooding as part of the conveyancing in East Sussex.
Flooding is a growing risk for conveyancers conducting conveyancing in East Sussex. There are those who purchase a house in East Sussex, fully aware that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical destruction, where a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, suitable building insurance, or dispose of the premises. Steps can be carried out as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.
Conveyancers are not best placed to give advice on flood risk, however there are a numerous searches that can be carried out by the purchaser or on a buyer’s behalf which will give them a better understanding of the risks in East Sussex. The standard property information forms given to a purchaser’s lawyer (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) includes a standard inquiry of the seller to determine if the premises has suffered from flooding. If the residence has been flooded in past which is not disclosed by the owner, then a purchaser may bring a compensation claim as a result of such an inaccurate answer. A buyer’s conveyancers will also conduct an environmental report. This will disclose whether there is a recorded flood risk. If so, further inquiries will need to be initiated.
How does conveyancing in East Sussex differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build property in East Sussex come to us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is built. This is because house builders in East Sussex usually buy the real estate, 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 property lawyers 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 East Sussex or who has acted in the same development.
I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and found one close by in East Sussex I like with amenity areas and transport links nearby, the downside is that it only has 52 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in East Sussex suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a lease with such few years left?
Should you need a home loan that many years will be an issue. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.
I am looking for a conveyancing lawyer in East Sussex for my house move. Is it possible to see a solicitor's record with the profession’s regulator?
One may see published Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions stemming from investigations from 2008 onwards. Go to Check a solicitor's record. To find records Pre 2008, or to check a firm's history, phone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For callers outside the UK, call +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator may recorded call for training requirements.