My best friend’s uncle is a solicitor. I suspect that I'll be able to get preferential pricing for conveyancing, However if that does not come through, what kind of costs should I be paying for conveyancing in Lewisham?
You should compare pricing. Do use our comparison tool on this site. You will notice that estimates will vary but the service one can expect differ between conveyancers as is the case with the vast majority of professional services.
In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Lewisham? Why is this being asked of me?
Lewisham conveyancing solicitors as well as nationwide property lawyers throughout the UK have a duty under Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules to verify the identity of any client in order to ensure that clients are who they say they are.
Conveyancing clients will need to disclose two forms of certified identification; proof of identity (usually a Passport or Driving Licence) and evidence of address (typically a Bank Statement less than 3 months old).
Proof of the origin of monies is also necessary under the money laundering laws as lawyers are mandated to check that the money you are using to buy a property (be it the exchange deposit or the full purchase price where you are buying without a mortgage) has come from a reputable source (such as employment savings) as opposed to the product of illegitimate behaviour.
I am purchasing a semi-detached house in Lewisham. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Lewisham you will have to appoint a solicitor on your bank's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Lewisham.
Forgive me if this question is silly but I am unseasoned as FTB of a garden flat in Lewisham. Do I collect the keys to the premises on completion from my solicitor? If so, I will find a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Lewisham?
There is no need to visit the lawyers office on the day of completion. Conveyancing lawyers for you will electronically transfer the completion advance to the owner’s lawyers, and shortly after the monies have arrived, you will be invited to pick up the keys from the property Agents and move into your new home. This tends to happen between 1 and 3pm.
I am the sole beneficiary of my late father’s estate with all property in now in my sole name, including the house in Lewisham. Conveyancing formalities meant that the Land Registry date was in May. I plan to dispose of the house. I understand that there is a Mortgage Lenders six month 'rule', which means that my property ownership may be treated the same way as if I'd bought the property in May. Will no one buy the property for half a year?
The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ handbook mandates conveyancers to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." Technically you might be impacted by that. How sensible a view mortgage companies take of it, depend on the lender as this provision principally exists to identify subsales or the wholesaling and assigning of properties.
My sealed bid on a semi in Lewisham has been accepted, but there is a chain. The sellers have offered on on an apartment, however it’s not been accepted yet, and are looking at other flats in the pipeline. I have selected a nearby conveyancing solicitor in Lewisham. What do I do now? At what stage do I apply for the mortgage with Coventry BS?
It is usual to have concerns where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to incur expenses too early (home loan application is in the region of one thousand pounds, then survey, Lewisham conveyancing search fees, etc). The first thing to do is check that your conveyancer is on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel. Concerning the subsequent stages this very much depends on the circumstances of your transaction, desire for this property and on the state of the market. During a hot market the majority of buyers will apply for the mortgage with Coventry BS and pay for the valuation and only if it was satisfactory would they pay their solicitor to proceed with the conveyancing in Lewisham.
Me and my brother have a semi-detached Edwardian property in Lewisham. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Santander. I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw 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 review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be 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 Lewisham and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also check the situation with your conveyancing lawyer who conducted the conveyancing.
How does conveyancing in Lewisham differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Lewisham come to us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is constructed. This is because developers in Lewisham tend to purchase 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 Lewisham or who has acted in the same development.