After looking at consumer advice sites for a high-quality solicitor in East Sussex, many advise that I must instruct a CQS accredited lawyer. What is CQS?
East Sussex Conveyancing Quality Scheme law firms have been granted accreditation under the Law Society's Scheme (CQS) CQS was established to promote high standards in the in the legal transfer of properties. CQS helps consumers to recognise practices who provide a quality residential conveyancing. East Sussex is one of locations in England and Wales in which accredited firms have offices. The conveyancing scheme requires law firms to undergo a strict assessment, compulsory training, self-certification, random audits and yearly assessments in order to maintain CQS status. It is open only to members of the Law Society who meet the demanding standards set by the scheme and has the support of the Legal Ombudsman.
Last month we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Co-operative. East Sussex conveyancing practitioners have been selected. How long does it take for Co-operative to send the offer to the conveyancer?
Some lenders take longer than others. Have Co-operative completed the survey? Have you informed Co-operative as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the Co-operative conveyancing panel? Sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued.
After weeks of negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment in East Sussex. My financial adviser recommended their conveyancers. I paid an upfront payment of £175. Not long after, the lawyer called me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Clydesdale 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 Clydesdale 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.
About to purchase apartment in East Sussex. I have received an online quote from a licenced conveyancer, which states: "There will be no charge for dealing with the Building Society if you are obtaining a mortgage". I take this to mean that there will be no additional fee if the solicitor is on the RBS 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 Sussex conveyancing practitioner is on the RBS conveyancing panel.
Should our conveyancer be raising questions concerning flooding as part of the conveyancing in East Sussex.
Flooding is a growing risk for solicitors conducting conveyancing in East Sussex. There are those who purchase a property in East Sussex, completely expectant that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, aside from the physical damage, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, adequate insurance cover, or sell the premises. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.
Lawyers are not best placed to offer advice on flood risk, however there are a numerous searches that may be initiated by the purchaser or by their solicitors which should figure out the risks in East Sussex. The standard completed inquiry forms sent to a purchaser’s solicitor (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) incorporates a usual question of the seller to find out if the property has historically flooded. In the event that flooding has previously occurred and is not disclosed by the seller, then a purchaser may bring a compensation claim resulting from an inaccurate reply. The purchaser’s solicitors will also carry out an enviro report. This will disclose if there is any known flood risk. If so, more detailed inquiries should be carried out.
How does conveyancing in East Sussex differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build property in East Sussex contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is built. This is because house builders in East Sussex tend to buy the real estate, 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 East Sussex or who has acted in the same development.
Over the last few months I have been searching for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and identified one round the corner in East Sussex I like with a park and railway links nearby, the downside is that it's only got 51 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in East Sussex in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error acquiring a lease with such few years left?
If you require a home loan the remaining unexpired lease term may be an issue. Discount the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing owner has owned the property for at least twenty four months you could request that they commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor concerning this matter.
I have been sourcing a conveyancing practitioner in East Sussex for my home move. Can I check a firm’s record with the profession’s regulator?
Anyone may search for presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations arising from inquisitions started on or after Jan 2008. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For details about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's history, 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 could recorded call for training requirements.