I was recommended to a solicitor who has sent a quote for £995 for no sale no fee conveyancing in Handsworth. I’m looking to sell a Georgian property for £275,000. Is this too much? Is it in excess of what I should be paying for conveyancing in Handsworth?
The quote is slightly on the high side. If you shop around you might get the conveyancing a bit cheaper by say £125. On the other hand, you couldcome to regret choosing an an unknown lawyer. If is important to ensure that the conveyancer can also act for your mortgage company. You can employ our search tool to select a Handsworth conveyancing practice on the banks conveyancing panel which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Handsworth.
Last January we completed a house move in Handsworth. We have noticed several issues with the property which we believe were missed in the conveyancing searches. Do we have any recourse? Can you clarify the type of searches that needed to have been carried out as part of conveyancing in Handsworth?
It is not clear from the question as to the nature of the problems and if they are unique to conveyancing in Handsworth. Conveyancing searches and due diligence initiated as part of the legal transfer of property are designed to help avoid problems. As part of the process, a seller completes a form known as a Seller’s Property Information Form. If the information is incorrect, you could possibly take legal action against the owner for any losses that you have suffered. The survey should have identified any problems with the structure of the property. Assuming a detailed survey was carried out and the issues were not identified, you may have a claim against the surveyor. However, if you did not have a full survey, you may be responsible for fixing any defects that have now been noted. We would always encourage buyers to take every possible step to ensure they are completely aware of the condition of a property before purchase regardless of whether they are buying in Handsworth.
Finally the sale completed on my house in Handsworth last December but our buyer keeps texting daily to moan that their lawyer is waiting to hear from myconveyancer. What are the post completion sale formalities now that I have sold?
Following your disposal your solicitor should deliver the transfer documentation and all supplemental paperwork to the buyer’s solicitors. If applicable, your conveyancer should also send confirmation that the mortgage has been paid off to the purchasers solicitors. There are no post completion requirements unique to conveyancing in Handsworth.
Should our lawyer be asking questions concerning flooding during the conveyancing in Handsworth.
The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for conveyancers carrying out conveyancing in Handsworth. Plenty of people will purchase a property in Handsworth, completely expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical destruction, if a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, adequate building insurance, or dispose of the property. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.
Solicitors are not qualified to impart advice on flood risk, but there are a numerous searches that can be carried out by the purchaser or by their solicitors which should figure out the risks in Handsworth. The standard completed inquiry forms supplied to a purchaser’s lawyer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) incorporates a usual inquiry of the owner to determine if the property has suffered from flooding. In the event that flooding has previously occurred and is not revealed by the owner, then a purchaser may issue a claim for damages as a result of such an misleading reply. The purchaser’s conveyancers may also conduct an enviro search. This will indicate if there is a recorded flood risk. If so, more detailed investigations will need to be conducted.
My wife and I own a semi-detached Edwardian property in Handsworth. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and Platform Home Loans Ltd. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are a couple of entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold under the exact same property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Handsworth and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also enquire as to the situation with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the purchase.
I was advised by numerous estate agents in Handsworth to locate a solicitor using your seach tool. What’s the financial incentive for Estate Agents to offer your services over and above a competitor’s?
We refuse to make any referral fee for sending work our way. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission because a client could think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.