Much to our surprise we have been notified by our estate agent that my Heathrow property lawyer is not on the lender Conveyancing panel. How can I be sure if this is correct?
Your first step should be to call your Heathrow conveyancer. It is reasonable to expect your lawyer to notify you what has happened. If they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the approved list of lawyers for your lender.
My fiancee and I are buying our first property. Our lawyer has e-mailedto see if we would like to take out supplemental conveyancing searches. We are really unsure what's appropriate for conveyancing in Heathrow
The range of Heathrow conveyancing searches should be triggered based entirely on the property, the location, the possibility of any of these risks, your knowledge of the region and risks, your overall appetite to risk. What is important is that you properly understand what information the searches could give you. Then you can make a decision if you personally think you need that search. Should you be in doubt, ask the conveyancing practitioner to advise.
I am the sole beneficiary of my late grandmother’s estate with all property in now in my sole name, including the my former home in Heathrow. Conveyancing formalities meant that the Land Registry date was in November. I want to move. I understand that there is a Mortgage Lenders 6 month 'rule', which means that my proprietorship could be regarded the same way as if I'd bought the property in November. Do I have to wait half a year to sell?
The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ handbook instructs conveyancers to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." Technically you may be affected by that. How sensible a view mortgage companies take of it, depend on the mortgage company as this obligation principally exists to pick up on the purchase and immediately sell or the wholesaling and assigning of property.
We have agreed to purchase a house in Heathrow. One unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Coventry BS have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
As you are obtaining a mortgage with Coventry BS your lawyer must check the formal instructions outlined in Section 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Coventry BS. The CML Handbook stipulates minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and property lawyers are required to report to Coventry BS where a lease does not meet these provisions. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales and is not limited to Heathrow.
We expect to receive a OIP from Bank of Ireland this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Bank of Ireland recommend any Heathrow solicitors on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?
You will need to appoint Heathrow solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Bank of Ireland through the process.
Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Heathrow prior to instructing conveyancers. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. Our surveyor has said that some banks tend not give a loan on this type of property.
It varies from the lender to lender. HSBC has different requirements for example to Birmingham Midshires. If you contact us we can investigate further via the appropriate bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Heathrow. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Heathrow to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.
I have been pointed in your direction by two or three local estate agents in Heathrow to get a quote from a property lawyer using your seach tool. What’s the financial upside for Estate Agents to recommend your services ahead of alternative conveyancing organisations?
We refuse to offer any referral fee for pointing buyers and sellers our way. We thought it would be too underhand a fee as a client could think, ‘Why is the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.
As co-executor for the estate of my grandmother I am disposing of a house in Monmouth but live in Heathrow. My solicitor (based 260 miles from mehas requested that I sign a statutory declaration prior to the transaction finalising. Can you recommend a conveyancing practitioner in Heathrow who can witness and place their company stamp on the document?
Technically speaking you should not need to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally or notary public or solicitor will be fine regardless of whether they are located in Heathrow