I am nearing exchange of contracts for my flat in Hither Green and the estate agent has just called to warn that the purchasers are switching solicitor. The excuse is that the lender will only work with solicitors on their approved list. On what basis would a big named mortgage company only deal with certain lawyers rather the firm that they want to select for their conveyancing in Hither Green ?
Banks have always had an approved set of law firms they are content to work with, but in recent years big names such as Nationwide, have reviewed and reduced their conveyancing panel– in some cases removing conveyancing firms who have acted for them for more than 25 years.
Lending institutions point to the increase in fraud by way of justification for the cull – criteria have been tightened as a smaller panel is easier to monitor. 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 are unaware that they have been dropped until contacted by a borrower who has instructed them as might be the situation in your buyers' case. Your purchasers are not going to have any impact on this.
I have 70 years left on my lease and need a lease extension for my flat in Hither Green. Conveyancing solicitors on the Platform panel can deal with such extensions right?
Most leasehold conveyancing experts should be able to deal with a lease extension. if you are getting a mortgage then your lender may insist that the lease be extended before competition. Platform have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook in relation to minimum unexpired lease terms. As of 22/11/2023 the requirements read as follows :
I am helping my sister sell her property in Hither Green. Will the conveyancing solicitor order an energy performance certificate or it is for me to see to?
Following the demise of Home Information Packs, EPC’s became a mandatory component of moving house. An energy assessment should be commissioned before the property is marketed. It is not as aspect of the sale process that law firms normally arrange. Where you are using a Hither Green conveyancing lawyer they might be able to arrange EPC’s due to their relationships with reputable local energy assessors
I have today made my last payment due on my mortgage with Nottingham. I assume I don't need a Hither Green solicitor on the Nottingham panel to discharge the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?
If you have finished paying off your Nottingham mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Nottingham mortgage from the register. Nottingham, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
- but are not moving to another property
- where Nottingham has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
- Nottingham has instructed the Land Registry to do so
About to purchase flat in Hither Green. 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 Aldermore 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 Hither Green lawyer is on the Aldermore conveyancing panel.
I am selling our property in Hither Green and according to the buyers it appears that there is a possibility that the property was constructed on contaminated land. A local lawyer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the purchasers instructed a web based conveyancing firm as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Hither Green. We have lived in Hither Green for many years we know of no issue. Should we contact our local Authority to seek confirmation that the buyers are looking for.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing firm currently acting for you. What do they say? You need to check with 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 life insurance to cover that same illness)
I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £235,500 and identified one near me in Hither Green I like with open areas and railway links nearby, the downside is that it's only got 61 years unexpired on the lease. There is not much else in Hither Green in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake acquiring a lease with such few years left?
If you need a home loan that many years will be a potential deal breaker. Discount the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you can request that they start the process of the extension and then assign it to you. You can add 90 years to the current lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor regarding this.
As co-executor for the will of my uncle I am disposing of a property in Monmouth but live in Hither Green. My conveyancer (approximately 235 miles from meneeds me to sign a statutory declaration before completion. Could you suggest a conveyancing solicitor in Hither Green who can attest this legal document for me?
strictly speaking you are unlikely to be required to have the documents attested by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily any notary public or qualified solicitor will be fine regardless of whether they are Hither Green based