As someone clueless as to the Sawston conveyancing process what’s your top tip you can impart for the home moving process in Sawston
Not many law firms shout this from the rooftops but conveyancing in Sawston or throughout England and Wales is an adversarial process. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there exists lots of opportunity for confrontation between you and others involved in the house moving process. For example, the vendor, property agent and sometimes a bank. Appointing a lawyer for your conveyancing in Sawston an important selection as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the SOLE party in the transaction whose responsibility is to look after your best interests and to keep you safe.
Every so often a potential adversary may attempt to sway you that it is in your interests to do things their way. For example, the estate agent may claim to be assisting by claiming that your lawyer is dragging his heels. Or your mortgage broker may tell you to do take action that is against your conveyancers advice. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties when it comes to the legal transfer of property.
I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Sawston. My lender is Accord Mortgages
Accord Mortgages have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 10/4/2025, the requirements read as follows :
I am downsizing from our property in Sawston and according to the buyers it appears that there is a risk of it being built land that was not decontaminated. Any local lawyer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers are using a factory type conveyancing firm rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Sawston. Having lived in Sawston for six years we know of no issue. Should we get in touch with our local Authority to seek confirmation that there is no issue.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing solicitor already. Are they able to advise? You must enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same ailment)
My wife and I purchased a terraced Victorian property in Sawston. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Leeds Building Society. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold with the matching address. Is it worth asking Leeds Building Society to clarify?
You should read 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 owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Sawston 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 buyers. You can also question the situation with your conveyancing solicitor who conducted the work.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £235,500 and found one near me in Sawston I like with amenity areas and transport links in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 61 years on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Sawston in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?
If you require a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term may be an issue. Reduce the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current proprietor has owned the property for at least twenty four months you can request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.
What do I do if I am dissatisfied with the lawyer who did my conveyancing in Sawston?
We live in an imperfect world, and is is a fact of life that occasionally matters do not go as planned. However there is recourse if you were not happy with your conveyancing in Sawston. This varies from trying to resolve matters directly with them, through to reporting a property lawyer to their regulator. If you remain aggrieved you may consider enlisting the help of the Legal Ombudsman.