I am getting a mortgage with Halifax. My intention is to instruct a Licensed Conveyancer in East Finchley. Does the Halifax Conveyancing panel include Licensed Conveyancers?
The Halifax conveyancing panel is, like many other lenders, represented by the CML or BSA, open to Licensed Conveyancers regulated by the CLC.
We have agreed to purchase a house in East Finchley. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Santander be concerned?
As your lender is Santander your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing requirements contained in Part 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Santander. The CML Handbook sets out minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancing practitioners are required to report to Santander where a lease does not satisfy these specifications. The provisions relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales and is not isolated to East Finchley.
After much negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment in East Finchley. My financial adviser recommended their conveyancers. I paid an on account payment of £150. Shortly after, the lawyer contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Barclays conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Barclays panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
Intending to buy a house in East Finchley. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Lender if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. I wanted to make sure it means there will be no additional fees for dealing with the mortgage.
They are simply saying that the cost for acting for the lender is included in the fee being quoted. It is worth you checking that the East Finchley solicitor is on the Nationwide conveyancing panel.
How straightforward is it to use the search app to locate a conveyancing solicitor in East Finchley on the authorised to act for my lender?
1st pick a bank such as Birmingham Midshires, The Mortgage Works or Barclays Direct then specify your location such as East Finchley. Conveyancing firms in East Finchley and nationally will then be shown.
I have been sourcing a conveyancing practitioner in East Finchley for my house move. Is there any facility to review a firm’s complaints history with the profession’s regulator?
Anyone may find presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) decisions stemming from inquisitions from 2008 onwards. Go to Check a solicitor's record. For details about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a solicitors record, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. For non-uk callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA sometimes recorded call for training requirements.
I've recently bought a leasehold house in East Finchley. Am I liable to pay service charges for periods before completion of my purchase?
Where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. Strange as it may seem, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. A critical element of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to ensure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.
If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).
My wife and I have hit a brick wall in trying to purchase the freehold in East Finchley. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?
Where there is a absentee landlord or where there is disagreement about the premium for a lease extension, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can apply to the LVT to assess the price payable.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a East Finchley residence is Ground Floor 110 Station Road in June 2013. The Tribunal found that the premium payable for a lease extension should be £31,665. This case affected 1 flat. The unexpired term was 56.65 years.
Would local authority consent be needed to split a house into multiple appartments in East Finchley? This has occurred to a property opposite to my home in East Finchley and was unaware of it happening until after the works were done.
Planning permission is necessary for converting a single dwelling in East Finchley into apartments but possibly not for reverting once again to single dwelling-house so, simply put, yes.