We are buying a 3 bedroom flat in Camden Town with a mortgage. We would like to retain our Camden Town solicitor, but the lender advise she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the lender panel firms or retain our Camden Town conveyancing practitioner as well as pay for one of their panel lawyers to act for them. We feel that this is inequitable; is there anything we can do?
Unfortunately,no. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the lender’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower 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. A further alternative is for your Camden Town conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
It is is a decade since I acquired my property in Camden Town. Conveyancing lawyers have recently been instructed on the sale but I can't locate the title deeds. Will this cause complications?
You need not be too concerned. Firstly the deeds may be retained by your lender or they may be archived with the solicitor who handled your purchase. Secondly the chances are that the land will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to prove you own the property by your conveyancing lawyers procuring up to date copy of the land registers. Most conveyancing in Camden Town relates to registered property but in the unlikely event that your home is unregistered it is more problematic but is resolvable.
I am buying a terraced house in Camden Town. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?
Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Camden Town you will have to appoint a solicitor on your bank's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Camden Town.
Should commercial conveyancing searches disclose planned roadworks that could impact a commercial site in Camden Town?
Its becoming the norm that commercial conveyancing solicitors in Camden Town will carry out a SiteSolutions Highways report as it reduces the time that conveyancers expend in looking into accurate data on highways that impact buildings and development assets in Camden Town. The search result sets out definitive information on the adoption status of roads, footpaths and verges, as well as the implication of traffic schemes and the rights of way surrounding a commercial development sites in Camden Town.
For every commercial conveyancing transaction in Camden Town it is critical to investigate the adoption status of roads surrounding a site. Failure to identify developments where adoption procedures have not been dealt with adequately could result in delays to Camden Town commercial conveyancing deals as well as pose a risk to future intentions for the site. These searches are not ordered for residential conveyancing in Camden Town.
How does conveyancing in Camden Town differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build residence in Camden Town approach us having been asked by the seller to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is finished. This is because house builders in Camden Town tend to 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 conveyancers 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Camden Town or who has acted in the same development.
Me and my husband have today had a bid accepted on our first house in Camden Town, and are now looking to get solicitors appointed. We have made use of the different rating based websites and the results are from all over the country. Is it important to have a Camden Town property lawyer local to your prospective new home? We are happy to do all the communicating electronically, but I assume at some stage we may need to attend the lawyer's office to sign contracts?
The lawyer does not need to be in Camden Town, but choosing local means that you have the option to go in if required, by way of example, if a signature is immediately necessary. Furthermore, a Camden Town solicitor is likely to be familiar with local agents and (if the vendor has instructed a local conveyancer) with them, which will help keep things moving faster.