It is 10 years ago since I bought my home in Horfield. Conveyancing solicitors have just been retained on the sale but I am unable to find the deeds. Will this jeopardise the sale?
Don’t worry too much. First the deeds may be with the lender or they may be in the possession of the solicitor who acted in the purchase. Secondly the chances are that the land will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to prove you own the property by your conveyancing solicitors procuring up to date copy of the land registers. The vast majority of conveyancing in Horfield relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your property is unregistered it is more problematic but is resolvable.
Are the BSA intent on creating a searchable register to to identify law firms on the Earl Shilton BS conveyancing panel for example in Horfield?
We are not aware of any plans on the part of the BSA to promote such a tool.
My wife and I are close to exchanging contracts on the sale of our property in Horfield and according to the buyers it appears that there is a risk of it being built on contaminated land. Any high street Horfield conveyancer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers instructed a national conveyancing outfit rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Horfield. We have lived in Horfield for three years we know of no issue. Should we contact our local Authority to seek clarification need.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing firm currently acting for you. Are they able to advise? You need to 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 sickness)
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Horfield?
Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Horfield. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’
How does conveyancing in Horfield differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Horfield approach us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is ready to move into. This is because developers in Horfield usually acquire the site, 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 property lawyers 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Horfield or who has acted in the same development.
Are there any apps to assist me to identify a Horfield solicitor on the The Mortgage Works conveyancing panel? I have wheels and am prepared to travel upto 10kilometers to meet the lawyer.
Feel free to make use of the tool on this website. Please choose the mortgage company and your location and you will see a number of Horfield conveyancing lawyers located nearest you. We have detailed some Horfield conveyancing firms towards the end of this page and you can call them to see if they are on the The Mortgage Works member panel