My fiance and I wish to acquire a 1 bedroom apartment in Hailsham with a mortgage from Platform Home Loans Ltd.We would like to retain our Hailsham conveyancing lawyer but Platform Home Loans Ltd informed us his firm is not on their "panel". It seems we are left with no choice but to instruct a Platform Home Loans Ltd panel solicitor or keep our high street solicitor and fork out for one of their panel ones to act for them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?
No, not really. The loan issued to you contains various provisions, one of which will be that lawyers must be on the Platform Home Loans Ltd approved list. Until recently, most banks had large numbers of solicitors on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Platform Home Loans Ltd
My stepmother pointed out to me me that in buying a property in Hailsham there could be various restrictions preventing external changes to the property. Is this right?
There are a number of properties in Hailsham which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to execute external variations. Part of the conveyancing in Hailsham should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.
is it true that all Hailsham solicitor practices on the Principality conveyancing panel are overseen by the SRA?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Principality conveyancing panel they would need to be governed by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Some lenders do list licenced conveyancers on their panel and in such a situation the practice would be overseen by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
Completion of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Hailsham. Conveyancing was satisfactory but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. How do I make a complaint?
All lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Team at head office. Ordinarily complaints to a lender are resolved very quickly. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.
A relative suggested that if I am purchasing in Hailsham I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?
A search of this type is usually quoted for as part of the standard Hailsham conveyancing searches. It is not a small document of more than thirty pages, listing and setting out significant information about Hailsham around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime statistics, Local Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful information concerning Hailsham.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in last month in what should have been a simple, no chain conveyancing. Hailsham is the location of the property. Can you offer any guidance?
Flying freeholds in Hailsham are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Hailsham you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Hailsham may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.
We're FTB’s - had an offer accepted, yet the selling agent told us that the vendor will only go ahead if we appoint the agent's preferred solicitors as they want an ‘expedited deal’. Our preferred option is to instruct a high street conveyancer with experience of conveyancing in Hailsham
We suspect that the seller is unaware of this requirement. Should the seller desire ‘a quick sale', turning down a serious buyer is likely to cause more damage than good. Speak to the owners direct and make sure they comprehend that (a)you are genuine buyers (b)you are ready to progress, with mortgage lined up © you are unencumbered (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)however you are going to instruct your preferred Hailsham conveyancing firm - rather thanthose that will provide their estate agent a referral fee or hit his conveyancing figures demanded by senior management.
Is planning permission needed to convert a house into two appartments in Hailsham? This has been done to a property opposite to my house in Hailsham and was ignorant of the conversion until the works were finished.
Planning consent is required for splitting a single house in Hailsham into flats but probably not for converting back to single dwelling-house so, simply put, yes.