My friend's step-father is a solicitor. I anticipate that I will receive mate’s pricing for conveyancing, However if that does not come materialise, what level of costs would I typically be looking at for conveyancing in Hitchin?
It’s wise to seek multiple conveyancing quotes. Do use our comparison tool on this page. You will notice that quotes may be different but service levels do differ between law firms as is true with the vast majority of professional services.
I purchased a freehold premises in Hitchin but nevertheless charged rent, why is this and what is this?
It is rare for properties in Hitchin and has limited impact for conveyancing in Hitchin but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.
Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges date back many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of fresh rentcharges post 1977.
Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a lump sum payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence post 2037 will be dispensed with completely.
We are getting a further advance on our mortgage from Barclays as we want to conduct renovations to our house in Hitchin. Are we obliged to appoint a nearby Hitchin solicitor on the Barclays conveyancing panel to deal with the legals?
Barclays would not normally require firms on their approved list of lawyers to deal with such a matter. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Barclays conveyancing panel.
I am expecting a AIP from UBS this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do UBS recommend any Hitchin solicitors on the UBS conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?
You will need to appoint Hitchin solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the UBS conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and UBS through the process.
I recently had an offer agreed on an apartment in Hitchin. My financial adviser recommended their conveyancers. I paid an advanced payment of £175. Soon after, the conveyancer called me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the Virgin Money 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 Virgin Money 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.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a house I put an offer in last month in what should have been a simple, no chain conveyancing. Hitchin is the location of the property. Can you offer any opinion?
Flying freeholds in Hitchin are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Hitchin you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Hitchin may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.
My husband and I are new on the property ladder - had an offer accepted, but the agent has warned us that the seller will only proceed if we use their chosen conveyancers as they want an ‘expedited deal’. My instinct tells me that we should use a local conveyancer with experience of conveyancing in Hitchin
It is improbable the owners are behind this. Should the owner desire ‘a quick sale', turning down a motivated purchaser is not the way to achieve this. Contact the sellers directly and explain that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to progress, with finances in place © you do not need to sell (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)however you will continue to instruct your preferred Hitchin conveyancing lawyers - as opposed tothe ones that will give their negotiator at the agency a referral fee or hit his conveyancing targets set by senior management.
My brother is buying a ground floor flat in Hitchin. He has received an estimate by the conveyancer suggested by the estate agents totaling £1385 . It was 9 years ago since I sold and bought a property and it cost was £495. Have charges really escalated to that extent?
What does the conveyancing estimate include? Is it just for the legal fees, or what you will be paying in total (for example Hitchin searches, land registry fees, etc)