Finally the sale completed on my house in Kingston last February but the buyer keeps telephoning me to say their lawyer needs to hear from mine. What should have happened now that I have sold?
Following your disposal your lawyer is committed to forward the transfer deeds and all of the paperwork to the purchaser's solicitors. Where relevant, your lawyer should also evidence that the legal charge in favour of the lender has been discharged to the buyers conveyancers. There is unlikely to be post completion tasks unique to conveyancing in Kingston.
After reading consumer advice sites for an online solicitor in Kingston, most comment that I should use a CQS accredited solicitor. What is CQS?
The Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) provides a kitemark for residential conveyancing practices issued by the Law Society. Membership achievement establishes a level of credibility for member firms with stakeholders (regulators, lenders, insurers and consumers) based upon: * the integrity of the senior responsible officer and other key conveyancing staff * the firm's adherence to good practice management standards * adherence to prudent and efficient conveyancing procedures via the scheme protocol the standard includes many companies who handle conveyancing in Kingston.
What does a local search reveal concerning the property I am purchasing in Kingston?
Kingston conveyancing often commences with the ordering local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search organisations for example PSG The local search plays a central role in many a Kingston conveyancing purchase; as long as you don’t want any unpleasant once you have moved into your property. The search should supply information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the property (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 subject headings.
I purchased a semi-detached Edwardian house in Kingston. Conveyancing lawyer represented me and Clydesdale. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold under the exact same address. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?
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 proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Kingston and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also check the situation with your conveyancing solicitor who conducted the conveyancing.
How does conveyancing in Kingston differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Kingston approach us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is constructed. This is because developers in Kingston usually buy the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Kingston or who has acted in the same development.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on two weeks back in what was supposed to be a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Kingston is where the house is located. Is there any guidance you can impart?
Flying freeholds in Kingston are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Kingston you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Kingston may ascertain 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 residence.