In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Harlow? Why is this being asked of me?
Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering laws require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to check the ID of the person or body they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing business. The Client Care letter that you are required to sign should stipulate this. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with the CML Lenders Handbook requirements last updated on 1st December 2014. Should you are unwilling to hand over ID verification documents, your lawyer would not be able to act for you.
What can a local search inform me concerning the house we're buying in Harlow?
Harlow conveyancing often starts with the submitting local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search organisations such as Xpress Legal The local search plays an important part in most Harlow conveyancing purchase; that is if you don’t want any nasty surprises after you move into your new home. The search should provide information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the premises (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 subject headings.
I have todayfound out that Wolstenholmes have closed. They conducted my conveyancing in Harlow for a purchase of a leasehold flat 12 months ago. How can I be sure that the property is in my name in the name of the former proprietor?
The quickest way to check if the property is in your name, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Harlow conveyancing specialists.
I have been on the look out for a flat up to £195,000 and identified one near me in Harlow I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, however it's only got 49 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Harlow suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake buying a short lease?
If you require a mortgage that many years will likely be a potential deal breaker. Discount the price by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for a minimum of 2 years you could ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should speak to your conveyancing lawyer regarding this matter.
What does commercial conveyancing in Harlow cover?
Non domestic conveyancing in Harlow incorporates a broad range of advice, given by qualified solicitors, relating to business property. By way of example, this type of conveyancing can cover the sale or purchase of freehold business premises or, more commonly, the assignment of existing business tenancies or the drafting of new leasing arrangements. Commercial conveyancing solicitors can also offer advice on the sale of business assets, commercial mortgages and the termination of leases.
My son is about to join the property ladder, he had his mortgage in principle. After the offer was accepted on house we called the bank to progress the mortgage application. I was shocked to learn that banks do not accept all solicitor, they have to be on a list, is this legal?
Banks normally restrict either the type or the number of conveyancing practices on their panel. Typical examples of such restriction(s) being that a firm must have two or more partners. In addition to restricting the type of firm, some have decided to limit the number of firms they use to represent them. You should note that banks have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any Harlow lawyer on their panel. Mortgage fraud was a key driver in the rationalisation of conveyancing panels a few years ago and whilst there are differing views about the extent of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Statistics from the Land Registry reveal that thousands of law firms only carry out one or two conveyances a year. Those supporting conveyancing panel cuts ask why law firms should have the right to be on a Lender panel when clearly, conveyancing is not their speciality. To put it another way; would you want a conveyancing solicitor to represent you if you were charged with a crime? Presumably not.