As a FTB what is the most important number one tip you can impart regarding purchase conveyancing in Branston?
Not many law firms shout this from the rooftops but conveyancing in Branston and elsewhere in England and Wales is often a confrontational process. Put another way, when it comes to conveyancing there is an abundance of opportunity for conflict between you and others involved in the legal transfer of property. For instance, the vendor, property agent and sometimes the lender. Selecting a solicitor for your conveyancing in Branston is a critical decision as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONLY person in the process whose interest is to act in your best interests and to keep you safe.
Every so often a potential adversary may try and convince you that you should follow their advice. For example, the estate agent may claim to be assisting by suggesting your lawyer is dragging his heels. Or your mortgage broker may advise you to do something that is against your solicitors guidance. You should always trust your lawyer above all other parties in the home moving process.
Please explain the implications if my lawyer’s firm is suspended from the Santander Conveyancing panel ahead of completing my conveyancing in Branston?
The first thing to point out is that, this is a very rare occurrence. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have to instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by a regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit at a cost.
My partner and I have organised the release of further funds on our home loan from Nationwide as we want to carry out a loft conversion to our property in Branston. Are we obliged to select a nearby Branston solicitor on the Nationwide conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?
Nationwide don't usually appoint a member of their conveyancing panel to handle the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Nationwide panel.
I'm in the throws of looking at houses in Branston and I am now considering a potential offer. Is it wise to have my conveyancing practitioner on ‘stand by’? I am planning to take a mortgage with Leeds Building Society.
You should start obtaining conveyancing estimates from solicitors ASAP. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and forward their details on to the selling agent. As you are obtaining a mortgage with Leeds Building Society, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel.
I have today made my last payment due on my mortgage with Nationwide. I assume I don't need a Branston conveyancing practitioner on the Nationwide panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Please confirm.
If you have finished paying off your Nationwide mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Nationwide mortgage from the register. Nationwide, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
- but are not moving to another property
- where Nationwide has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
- Nationwide has instructed the Land Registry to do so
Do I need to take out insurance to protect me from financial exposure to chancel repairs when purchasing a house in Branston?
Unless a prior acquisition of the house completed after 12 October 2013 you may expect lawyers delivering conveyancing in Branston to remain encouraging a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what should have been a simple, chain free conveyancing. Branston is where the house is located. Can you offer any opinion?
Flying freeholds in Branston are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Branston you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Branston may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.
My wife is purchasing a leasehold apartment in Branston. Conveyancing quotes are coming in at around £1650. Is that in the right ballpark?
The average fee last year for conveyancing in Branston was £1,419 not including Stamp Duty and HMLR charges.