I have given 2 months notice to my existing landlord and have to vacate my let out apartment in Charing Cross by the end of next month. Conveyancing on my purchase has just started. Can I complete in 5 weeks as don't want to have to move into short term accommodation?
Generally one should not provide notice on a rental until you have exchanged. Assuming that you have not already done so, contact to your lawyer and ask them to they chase the other solicitors, try to get a realistic time scale from them that everyone will look to achieve
Finally the sale completed on my house in Charing Cross last February yet the purchaser is Skype messaging every few hours to say her solicitor is waiting to hear from mysolicitor. What should my lawyer have done following completion?
Post completion of your disposal your solicitor should forward the transfer deeds and all of the paperwork to the buyer’s lawyers. If applicable, your conveyancer must also send confirmation that the home loan has been discharged to the buyers conveyancers. There is unlikely to be post completion requirements peculiar conveyancing in Charing Cross.
Will our solicitor be asking questions concerning flooding as part of the conveyancing in Charing Cross.
The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for lawyers conducting conveyancing in Charing Cross. Plenty of people will purchase a property in Charing Cross, completely expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, aside from the physical damage, if a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, suitable insurance cover, or sell the property. Steps can be carried out as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.
Conveyancers are not qualified to impart advice on flood risk, but there are a numerous searches that can be initiated by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which should give them a better appreciation of the risks in Charing Cross. The standard property information forms sent to a buyer’s conveyancer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) incorporates a standard inquiry of the owner to determine whether the premises has historically flooded. In the event that the residence has been flooded in past which is not disclosed by the vendor, then a purchaser may commence a claim for damages as a result of such an misleading response. The buyer’s conveyancers should also order an environmental report. This should higlight if there is a recorded flood risk. If so, more detailed investigations should be conducted.
Me and my brother have a semi-detached Edwardian property in Charing Cross. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Lloyds TSB Bank. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
You need to review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for 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 Charing Cross and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also enquire as to the position with your conveyancing practitioner who completed the work.
How does conveyancing in Charing Cross differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Charing Cross approach us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is constructed. This is because house builders in Charing Cross usually acquire 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 Charing Cross or who has acted in the same development.
I have today placed an offer on a leasehold flat in Charing Cross and the mortgage adviser that we are dealing with suggested his conveyancing practitioner. They quoted £1000 plus VAT and 3rd party costs. Does this sound expensive?
Don't just go on 1 quote. You should obtain like-for-like quotes for your conveyancing in Charing Cross. Then select one that you are comfortable with and just as important, is on the approved panel of the bank that you are sourcing your mortgage from.