As someone not used to the Knightsbridge conveyancing process what is your top tip you can give me concerning the ownership transfer in Knightsbridge
You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in Knightsbridge and elsewhere in London is often a confrontational experience. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there exists lots of room for friction between you and others involved in the legal transfer of property. For example, the vendor, estate agent and sometimes a mortgage company. Choosing a law firm for your conveyancing in Knightsbridge should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONE person in the transaction whose role it is to act in your best interests and to keep you safe.
There is a worrying emergence of a "blame" culture- someone must be blamed for the process taking so long. We recommend that you should always trust your conveyancer ahead of the other parties in the home moving process.
My uncle passed away 10 months ago and as sole heir and executor I was left the property in Knightsbridge. The house had a relatively small loan left on it of around £4500. I want to transfer the title deeds into my name whilst I re-mortgage to Nationwide, pay off the mortgage. Is this allowed?
Where you intend to re-mortgage then Nationwide will insist on your using a conveyancer on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your Nationwide conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the Nationwide mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
I opted to have a survey completed on a house in Knightsbridge before appointing conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. Our surveyor advised that some banks will not grant a mortgage on a flying freehold house.
It varies from the lender to lender. HSBC has different instructions for example to Nationwide. If you contact us we can investigate further via the relevant bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Knightsbridge. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.
We're novice buyers - agreed a price, but the estate agent has warned us that the owners will only move forward if we instruct the agent's recommended conveyancers as they are insisting on a ‘quick sale’. My instinct tells me that we should use a family solicitor who is accustomed to conveyancing in Knightsbridge
It is highly unlikely the vendors are behind this. If they desire ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a serious purchaser is is going to put the whole deal at risk. Avoid the agents and go straight to the owners and explain that (a)you are serious purchasers (b)you are ready to progress, with mortgage lined up © you are unencumbered (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)but you intend to use your own,trusted Knightsbridge conveyancing firm - not the ones that will provide their negotiator at the agency a commission or achieve conveyancing targets set by HQ.
I have just appointed agents to market my garden flat in Knightsbridge. Conveyancing solicitors are to be appointed soon, but I have recently received a half-yearly service charge demand – Do I pay up?
Your conveyancing lawyer is likely to suggest that you should pay the maintenance contribution as normal because all ground rent and service charges will be apportioned on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.
I have attempted and failed to negotiate with my landlord for a lease extension without any joy. Can a leaseholder apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal? Can you recommend a Knightsbridge conveyancing firm to assist?
Most definitely. We are happy to put you in touch with a Knightsbridge conveyancing firm who can help.
An example of a Lease Extension case for a Knightsbridge property is Flat 3 47 Cadogan Square in December 2010. the Tribunal determined that the premium payable to the landord by the leaseholder for the lease extension was £732,935 This case was in relation to 1 flat. The unexpired residue of the current lease was 13.33 years.
My wife and I are disposing of a Knightsbridge house left to us 8 years ago in 2012. I have over ten years conveyancing know-how and, now retired, see no reason not to conduct my own conveyancing. The purchaser's solicitor has informed me that their Lenders will not allow you to do your own conveyancing mandating that the funds to be released via a solicitor's bank account.
Lending instructions to conveyancing practitioners from all CML members specify that If the seller is not legally represented the buyer’s lawyers should check whether the lender needs to be informed so that a decision can be made as to whether or not they are prepared to move forward.