The Stanstead Abbotts conveyancing solicitors that I appointed last week on my house acquisition in Stanstead Abbotts have suddenly shut down. I only went with them because I had to have a firm on the Nationwide conveyancing panel and my previous Stanstead Abbotts lawyer was not. I paid them funds in advance. What should be my next steps?
If you have an estate agent involved then inform them straight away so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the Nationwide conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors should be in a position to help.
I have been told that property searches are the main reason for stalling in Stanstead Abbotts house deals. Is that correct?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the conclusions of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature within the common causes of hindrances during the legal transfer of property. Local searches are not likely to be the root cause of slowing down conveyancing in Stanstead Abbotts.
I used Stirling Law several years ago for my conveyancing in Stanstead Abbotts. Now, I need my documents however the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?
Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Stanstead Abbotts of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
Do I need to be suspicious about brokers that I am dealing with are suggesting an internet conveyancing firm as opposed to a local Stanstead Abbotts conveyancing firm?
As is the case with lots of professional services, often suggestions from relatives can be very helpful. Yet there are lots of players in a conveyancing matter; estate agents, mortgage brokers and mortgage companies might all suggest conveyancers to appoint. Sometimes these lawyers might be known to one of the organisations as being good in their field, but sometimes there is an underlying commercial relationship behind the recommendation. You have the discretion to select your own conveyancer. You need to be aware that some mortgage providers operate an approved list of law firms you must use for the mortgage aspect of your house move.
I am looking for a conveyancing practitioner in Stanstead Abbotts for my house move. Can I check a firm’s complaints history with the profession’s regulator?
Members of the public can search for presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from inquisitions from 2008 onwards. Visit Check a solicitor's record. To find information about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's history, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For callers outside the UK, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator sometimes recorded telephone calls for training requirements.
My plan is to acquire a garden flat in Stanstead Abbotts. Conveyancing lawyer is awaiting, from the vendor, building insurance paperwork. This afternoon I was informed that the owner needs to forward the insurance documents for the flat above as well. Why would my solicitor want to see the insurance for the flat above? Is it really required? We have been waiting for the previous month…
It is not impossible in leasehold conveyancing in Stanstead Abbotts to discover Conveyancing in Stanstead Abbotts in a minority of cases reveals that the lease provides for the leasehold owners to insure their individual flats rather than the landlord insuring the complete building - which is clearly preferable. You should clarify with your lawyer but it would appear that your property lawyer is looking to verify that the complete building is insured. Insuring your residence is no help when it comes to rebuilding after a fire if the other flat cannot be rebuilt due to lack of insurance cover.