I am one month into the sale of my apartment in Eastleigh and the EA has just telephoned to warn that the buyers are appointing a new law firm. The reason given is that the lender will only work with solicitors on their conveyancing panel. Why would a leading mortgage company only deal with certain solicitors rather the firm that they want to select to handle their conveyancing in Eastleigh ?
UK lenders have always had panels of law firms they are content to work with, but in the last few years big names such as Lloyds Banking Group, have considered and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have acted for them for decades.
Banks blame a rise in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been stiffened as a smaller panel is easier to oversee. No lender will say how many solicitors have been dropped, claiming the information is commercially sensitive, but the Law Society says it is hearing daily from firms that have been removed from panels. Plenty of firms do not even realise they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your buyers are not going to have any sway in the decision.
I require conveyancing for a flat in a fairly new development (6 years built) in Eastleigh. The vast majority the properties are already sold. Is it strictly necessary to order neighbourhood searches for my conveyancing in Eastleigh?
Conveyancing Searches are a vital link in the Eastleigh conveyancing process. There are hundreds companies delivering Eastleigh conveyancing searches, as well straight from the local authority. These are known collectively as personal search providers due to them carrying out, personal searches. However, all Local Authority Search conveyancing products have one thing in common - they must secure their information from the local authority.
It is a dozen years since I purchased my house in Eastleigh. Conveyancing solicitors have recently been retained on the sale but I am unable to find my deeds. Is this a problem?
Don’t worry too much. Firstly there is a chance that the deeds will be kept by the mortgage company or they could be in the possession of the conveyancers who acted in your purchase. Secondly the chances are that the land will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing lawyers obtaining current official copies of the land registers. The vast majority of conveyancing in Eastleigh involves registered property but in the rare situation where your property is not registered it is more of a problem but is not insurmountable.
My partner and I are intent on selling our house in Eastleigh and according to the buyers it appears that there is a risk of it being built on contaminated land. Any high street Eastleigh conveyancer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers are using a web based conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Eastleigh. Having lived in Eastleigh for 5 years we know that this is a non issue. Do we get in touch with our local Authority to get confirmation need.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing firm already. Are they able to advise? You must enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same ailment)
I used Stirling Law several years ago for my conveyancing in Eastleigh. Now, I need my files but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?
You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Eastleigh of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously hired, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
I'm purchasing my first flat in Eastleigh with the aid of help to buy. The developers refused to move on the price so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The estate agent advised me not inform my solicitor about the side-deal as it would put at risk my loan with the bank. Is this normal?.
All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.
Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.
Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.