In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Witney? What am I being asked for?
Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the ID of the person or body they are dealing with prior to agreeing to accepting their conveyancing retainer. The Terms of Engagement that you need to sign will no doubt stipulate this. Your lender will also require certain documents to be viewed. Where you refuse to supply ID verification documents, your lawyer would not be able to act for you.
Me and my partner are buying a apartment in Witney. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a lawyer? On the day of competition we have to put money into their account. What is the protection we have from them run away with our money?
Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.
My wife and I purchasing a 4 bedroom semi-detached house in Witney. Our aim is to carry out an extension to the side at the house.Will the conveyancing process involve checks to ascertain if these alterations are permitted?
Your conveyancer will check the registered title as conveyancing in Witney will sometimes identify restrictions in the title documents which restrict categories of alterations or require the consent of a 3rd party. Certain additions need local authority planning consent and approval in compliance with building regulations. Many areas are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which often prevent or affect extensions. It would be prudent to check these issues with a surveyor prior to committing yourself to a purchase.
I recently had an offer accepted on a house in Witney. My mortgage broker pressured me to appoint their conveyancer. I paid an upfront payment of £150. Not long after, the solicitor called me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the HSBC conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the HSBC panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
I require fast conveyancing in Witney as I am under pressure to sign on the dotted line in less than 2 weeks. Luckily I do not require a mortgage. Is it possible to escape the need for conveyancing searches to save fees and time?
As you are are a cash buyer you have the choice not to do searches although no solicitor would suggest that you don't. With lots of history conveyancing in Witney the following are instances of what can show up and therefore impact future mortgageability: Enforcement Actions, Overdue Fees, Outstanding Grants, Road Schemes,...
How does conveyancing in Witney differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Witney contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is constructed. This is because house builders in Witney typically buy the land, 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 property lawyers 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 used to new build conveyancing in Witney or who has acted in the same development.
I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and identified one round the corner in Witney I like with a park and transport links in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 61 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Witney in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?
If you need a mortgage that many years will be problematic. Reduce the offer by the anticipated lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you may request that they start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor regarding this matter.
I'm selling a bungalow in Witney. I have found my conveyancer's company on the CLC list, but I can't find my conveyancer's name as listed on the regulator's website. Is this a big problem?
Not all staff in the practice must be listed by the regulator. As long there is someone qualified to 'oversee' the work, the actual day-to-day activity can be conducted by unqualified staff.