Me and my partner are purchasing a 2 bedroom apartment in Cudham with a mortgage. We have a Cudham lawyer, but the bank advise she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the mortgage company panel firms or retain our Cudham solicitor and pay for one of their panel ones to act for them. We regard this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the bank’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 Cudham conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
We see that you have a post code search directory listing law firms on the Skipton conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I retain them for our own conveyancing in Cudham?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Skipton conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Cudham.
Please explain the implications if my solicitor is suspended from the RBS Solicitor panel ahead of completing my conveyancing in Cudham?
First, 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.
I have been told that property searches are the main reason for delay in Cudham house deals. Is there any truth in this?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published conclusions of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure within the common causes of hindrances in the conveyancing process. Local searches are not likely to be the root cause of holding up conveyancing in Cudham.
I am buying a new build apartment in Cudham. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.
Set out below is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Cudham
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Please supply a car parking plan. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme. Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a ground for flat up to £245,000 and found one close by in Cudham I like with open areas and transport links nearby, however it only has 61 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Cudham for this price, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a short lease?
Should you require a mortgage the shortness of the lease may be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the current owner has owned the property for a minimum of 2 years you may ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.