I have been told that property searches are the main reason for delay in Port Talbot house deals. Is that correct?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) released determinations of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure within the top 10 causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Searches are unlikely to be the root cause of holding up conveyancing in Port Talbot.
I have todaybecome aware that Wolstenholmes have closed. They conducted my conveyancing in Port Talbot for a purchase of a leasehold flat 10 months ago. How can I check that the property is in my name in the name of the previous owner?
The quickest way to see if the property is registered to you, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Port Talbot conveyancing specialists.
Due to the advice of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Port Talbot prior to retaining solicitors. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold element to the property. The surveyor advised that some banks may refuse to give a mortgage on a flying freehold property.
It depends who your proposed lender is. Santander has different requirements for example to Nationwide. If you call us we can investigate further via the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Port Talbot. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Port Talbot especially if they are acquainted with such properties in Port Talbot.
I have been recommended by a few property agents in Port Talbot to choose a solicitor using your seach tool. What’s the financial incentive for Estate Agents to offer your site rather than a competitor’s?
We don’t make any referral fee for pointing buyers and sellers our way. We thought it would be too underhand a fee because a client could think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ We would prefer to grow our business on genuine recommendations.
Am I better off to choose a Port Talbot conveyancing practitioner in close proximity to the house I am hoping to buy? An old friend can perform the legal formalities but her office is approximately 350kilometers away.
The benefit of a high street Port Talbot conveyancing firm is that you can visit the firm to sign paperwork, present your identification documents and pester them where appropriate. They will also have local intelligence which is a plus. That being said it's more important to get someone that will pull out all the stops for you. If other friends have used your friend and they were impressed that must surpass using an unknown Port Talbot conveyancing solicitor solely due to them being Port Talbot based.
Should one remove a departed person's details from the title deeds for a house in Port Talbot?
If a Port Talbot property is co-owned and one of the proprietors passes away, their name will not immediately be removed from the title deeds. It is not necessary to remove their name as when it comes to a sale you would simply be required to evidence why the joint proprietor is missing from the contract, such as a grant of probate.
With a view to making things more straight forward for the sale of the property you may arrange to have the deceased party erased from the title by submitting an application to HMLR with evidence of the death. There is no land registry fee payable.