My husband and I are hoping to buy a flat in Farringdon and are in fact using a Farringdon conveyancing practice. Within the last couple of days our conveyancer has forwarded the sale agreement to be signed with a detailed report with the expectation that exchange is imminent. National Westminster Bank have this evening contacted us to inform me that they have now hit a problem as our Farringdon lawyer is not on their approved list of lawyers. What do we do from here?
When purchasing a property with mortgage finance it is standard for the purchasers' solicitors to also act for the mortgage company. In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your solicitor should contact your bank and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own lawyers to represent them. You are not legally obliged to appoint a law firm on the lender’s conveyancing panel and you may continue to use your own Farringdon solicitors, in which case it will likely add costs, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.
It is is a decade since I acquired my property in Farringdon. Conveyancing solicitors have just been retained on the sale but I am unable to track down my deeds. Is this a major issue?
You need not be too concerned. Firstly there is a possibility that the deeds will be retained by your lender or they may be archived with the solicitor who handled your purchase. Secondly in most cases the title will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors procuring up to date copy of the land registers. Most conveyancing in Farringdon involves registered property but in the rare situation where your property is unregistered it is more of a problem but is not insurmountable.
My mortgage company has suggested a law firm on their panel based in Farringdon but I would rather use a conveyancing lawyer in Farringdon local to me. Can you help?
It is by no means the case that all Farringdon conveyancing practices are on all banks conveyancing panel. Use our search tool to choose a Farringdon conveyancing conveyancer on the on the mortgage company panel.
How simple is it to use the search tool to get a costs illustration from a conveyancing solicitor in Farringdon on the authorised to act for my lender?
Step one is to choose a mortgage company such as HSBC Bank, Bank of Scotland or Clydesdale then specify your preferred area a common one being Farringdon. Conveyancing practices in Farringdon and nationally should be shown.
Completion is due on the disposal of our £300,000 flat in Farringdon next week. The managing agents has quoted £420 for Certificate of Compliance, building insurance schedule and previous years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge such fees for a leasehold conveyance in Farringdon?
Farringdon conveyancing on leasehold maisonettes normally involves the buyer’s conveyancer sending enquiries for the landlord to answer. Although the landlord is under no legal obligation to address these enquiries the majority will be willing to assist. They are entitled to invoice a reasonable charge for answering questions or supplying documentation. There is no set fee. The average costs for the paperwork that you are referring to is £350, in some situations it is in excess of £800. The management information fee demanded by the landlord must be sent together with a synopsis of rights and obligations in respect of administration charges, without which the charge is technically not due. In reality one has little choice but to pay whatever is demanded should you wish to complete the sale of your home.
I have given up trying to reach an agreement for a lease extension in Farringdon. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?
Absolutely. We are happy to put you in touch with a Farringdon conveyancing firm who can help.
An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Farringdon flat is Flat 89 Trinity Court Grays Inn Road in February 2013. the Tribunal found that the premium to be paid by the tenant on the grant of a new lease, in accordance with section 56 and Schedule 13 to the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 should be £36,229. This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 66.8 years.
How much experience do your Farringdon conveyancing solicitors have with Help To Buy, Shared Equity and similar schemes?
Farringdon conveyancing lawyers help thousands of people move home every year and helped plenty of clients through the Help To Buy scheme. The chances are that whatever makes your case unique Farringdon conveyancers have worked on recent similar cases.