What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Seaburn? What am I being asked for?
Seaburn conveyancing solicitors and indeed property lawyers accross the UK have an obligation under money laundering regulations to verify the ID of any client with a view to satisfy themselves that clients are who they say they are.
Conveyancing clients will need to produce two forms of certified identification; proof of ID (usually a Passport or Driving Licence) and proof of address (usually a Bank Statement less than 3 months old).
Evidence of the origin of monies is also necessary in accordance with the money laundering laws as solicitors are required to investigate that the money you are utilising to buy a property (whether it be the deposit for exchange or the full purchase monies where you are a cash purchaser) has come from legitimate source (such as employment savings) and is not the proceeds of illegitimate behaviour.
Me and my brother have a 4 bedroom Edwardian property in Seaburn. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and The Royal Bank of Scotland. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the exact same property. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?
You need to 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 proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Seaburn and other locations in 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 enquire as to the position with the conveyancing lawyer who conducted the conveyancing.
How does conveyancing in Seaburn differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Seaburn contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is ready to move into. This is because builders in Seaburn typically acquire 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 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 Seaburn or who has acted in the same development.
I was pointed in your direction by numerous property agents in Seaburn to select a conveyancer using your seach tool. What’s the financial upside for Estate Agents to recommend your services rather than a competitor’s?
We refuse to give any financial incentive for directing people in our direction. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission because members of the public would think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why am I not receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.
In my capacity as executor for the will of my uncle I am selling a house in Neath but reside in Seaburn. My solicitor (approximately 235 miles from meneeds me to sign a statutory declaration prior to completion. Can you recommend a conveyancing solicitor in Seaburn to attest this legal document for me?
strictly speaking you are not likely to need to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Normally any notary public or qualified solicitor will be fine regardless of whether they are located in Seaburn
My fiance and I are hoping to buy a 2 bedroom ground floor flatin Seaburn with a residential mortgage from a bank. We have a lawyer in Seaburn yet our mortgage company inform us now that he's not on their "panel". Apparently we need to choose one of the our mortgage company panel solicitors or stay with our Seaburn conveyancer and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel as though this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage company home loan issued is subject to conditions, one of which will be that solicitors will on the mortgage company's conveyancing panel. Until recently, most mortgage companies had open panels, including most conveyancing solicitors in Seaburn : a mortgagee could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for your mortgage company.