We note that you have a post code search directory listing solicitors on the HSBC conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I instruct them for our own conveyancing in Kingsdown?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the HSBC conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Kingsdown.
I am in the process of refinancing my house in Kingsdown, does my lawyer have to be on the Yorkshire BS Conveyancing panel?
There is nothing to stop you using your solicitor, but Yorkshire BS will insist on their interests being represented by a firm on their conveyancing panel. There is greater potential for delays and confusion with an additional lawyer added to the mix, and it will undoubtedly be more expensive too.
I have been told that property searches are a common cause of obstruction in Kingsdown house deals. Is this right?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published conclusions of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure amongst the top 10 causes of delays in the conveyancing process. Local searches are not likely to feature in any holding up conveyancing in Kingsdown.
My wife and I own a 4 bedroom Edwardian house in Kingsdown. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Norwich and Peterborough Building Society. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold under the exact same address. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??
You should assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for 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 Kingsdown 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 position with the conveyancing lawyer who conducted the purchase.
I'm purchasing my first flat in Kingsdown with the aid of help to buy. The sellers refused to budge the amount so I negotiated five thousand pounds worth of fixtures and fittings instead. The property agent advised me not to tell my lawyer about the side-deal as it could impact my loan with the bank. Is this normal?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.
Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.
Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.
Is there a reason that Kingsdown conveyancing costs are higher for leasehold and freehold properties?
If buying a leasehold property there is more work involved purely due to the fact that usually there are further parties involved in the form of the freeholder and/or Management Agents. As part of a lawyers enquiries they will check that all ground rent and service charges are paid up to date amongst other general leasehold matters. For this reason, the Sellers lawyers usually have to refer to the freeholder or Managing Agent for their replies to our questions. This may be time consuming and beyond the lawyers control