I have just been advised by my mortgage adviser that my Highcliffe lawyer is not on the mortgage company Solicitor panel. What can I do to be certain whether this is indeed the case?
You need to call your Highcliffe conveyancer. You lawyer should inform you of the situation. If they are not on the panel they could put your in touch with solicitors on the conveyancing panel for your bank.
I am the registered owner of a freehold house in Highcliffe yet pay rent, why is this and what is this?
It’s unusual for properties in Highcliffe and has limited impact for conveyancing in Highcliffe but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.
Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of new rentcharges from 1977 onwards.
Old rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 is to be dispensed with completely.
I am helping my sister sell her house in Highcliffe. Will the solicitor arrange the energy assessment or do I organise this?
After the abolition of HIPs, energy performance certificates was maintained a mandatory component of selling a house. An EPC needs to be to hand in advance of the property being marketed. It is not as aspect of the sale process that conveyancers ordinarily arrange. Where you are using a Highcliffe conveyancing lawyer they might be willing to arrange energy performance certificates given their relationships with long established local accredited person
We had appointed solicitors with offices in Highcliffe on the HSBC solicitor approved list. They have just billed me a separate charge for the legal aspects of the HSBC mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by HSBC?
Provided it is contained in their Terms of Engagement or Quote then yes your conveyancer is entitled to charge a fee for this. The fee is not set by HSBC but by your Highcliffe solicitor. Numerous firms on the HSBC panel will charge an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.
After weeks of negotiation I have agreed a price on a house in Highcliffe. My mortgage broker recommended their conveyancers. I paid an on account payment of £175. Not long after, the solicitor called me embarrassingly acknowledging that they were not on the Kent Reliance 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 Kent Reliance 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.
How can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 impact my business property in Highcliffe and how can you help?
The 1954 Act gives protection to business lessees, granting the a statutory right to make a request to court for a continuation of occupancy at the end of the lease term. There are certain specified grounds where a landlord can refuse a lease renewal and the rules are complex. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing firms who use the act to your advantage and help with commercial conveyancing in Highcliffe
We are one month into a freehold purchase having been referred to a firm by the selling agent to carry out the conveyancing in Highcliffe. We are not happy. Could you help me find new solicitors?
A conveyancer would have to be really bad in order to consider replacing them. Has the mortgage been generated? In the event that it has you must inform them of the replacement conveyancer and get the mortgage documents are issued to the new lawyers. The solicitor ideally should be on the banks approved list to avoid added costs and delays. That should be your first question of the new conveyancers. Our search tool will assist you in finding a bank approved lawyer for your home move in Highcliffe
What is the distinction between surveying and conveyancing in Highcliffe?
Conveyancing - in Highcliffe or elsewhere - is the process of legally transferring legal title of property from one person to another. It involves the checking of the title. Whether buying or selling, you should be aware of anything affecting the property such as proposals by government departments, illegal buildings, or outstanding rates. The conveyancer should conduct the appropriate searches and inquiries on the property. Surveying relates to the structure of a property itself. A surveyor will look at a house, flat and any outbuildings you’re intending to buy and will help you discover the condition of the building and, if there are problems, give you leverage for reducing the price down or asking the vendor to remedy the defects before you complete your move.