I am obtaining a offer of a home loan from Halifax. I hope to retain the legal services of a Licensed Conveyancer in Oxfordshire. Does the Halifax Solicitor panel exclude Licensed Conveyancers?
The Halifax conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders, represented by the CML or Building Society Association, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
We are expecting a mortgage offer soon. The lender mentioned the mortgage came with free conveyancing. Is the implication that I have to use their panel conveyancer as I would prefer to appoint a local conveyancing solicitor in Oxfordshire?
You should check but the the likelihood is that give you one of their panel solicitors where you want the "fee-free" offer. Call the mortgage company and check if they offer you a monetary alternative. In the past a few mortgage companies offered a £250 cashback as an alternative in which case you could put that amount towards the cost for your conveyancing solicitor near Oxfordshire.
I am helping my mother sell her property in Oxfordshire. Does the conveyancing solicitor order an energy performance certificate or should I organise this?
Following the demise of HIPs, energy assessments was maintained a compulsory part of selling a house. An energy performance certificate must be to hand before the property is marketed. This is not something that conveyancers normally organise. Where you are using a Oxfordshire conveyancing solicitor they may be able to arrange energy assessments given their contacts with reputable Oxfordshire providers
My wife and I are at the point of looking at houses in Oxfordshire and I am about to put in an offer. Is it best to have a lawyer on ‘stand by’? I am planning to take a home loan with Skipton.
It would be prudent to commence your search sooner rather than later. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and forward their contact information on to the selling agent. As you are getting a mortgage with Skipton, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the Skipton conveyancing panel.
I can not work out if my mortgage offer requires a lease extension. I have called my Oxfordshire building society branch on a couple of occasions and was told it does not affect the mortgage offer and they will lend. My Oxfordshire conveyancing solicitor - who is on the lender conveyancing panel- called and was told they would not lend in accordance with their specific requirements. I have no idea who is right.
As long as the solicitor is on the mortgage company panel, they must follow the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook conditions for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the mortgage company will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the mortgage company to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.
How does conveyancing in Oxfordshire differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Oxfordshire contact us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is completed. This is because developers in Oxfordshire typically 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 Oxfordshire or who has acted in the same development.
I'm remortgaging my current property to a BTL mortgage with Coventry Building Society and I will use the rest of the raised equity as a deposit on further house. The area we are looking at is Oxfordshire. Will your conveyancers be able to act for both sets of lenders and link together the two deals?
Make use of our comparison tool on this page to be sure that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panels. Having checked that they are your conveyancer should be able to simultaneously deal with the two deals but you should have a chat with you conveyancer and make clear your desired outcome and needs.
Me and my wife are expecting to exchange on the purchase a property in Oxfordshire but as a consequence of damage from the recent storms I have agreed compensation from the current proprietors of five thousand pounds in the form of a adjustment in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process however my mortgage company will not permit this. Should they have been approached?
Your property lawyer that is on the bank approved list is duty bound to advise the bank of any changes to the sale price. In the event that you did not allow your conveyancer to disclose the price change to your mortgage company then they would have no choice but to disinstructing themselves from acting for you and the mortgage company.