My fiance and I are hoping to buy a home in Hounslow and are in fact using a Hounslow conveyancing practice. Within the last couple of days our conveyancer has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through with the expectation that exchange is imminent. Barnsley Building Society have this morning contacted us to advise us that there is now an issue as our Hounslow solicitor is not on their conveyancing panel. Is this a problem?
If you are buying a property requiring a mortgage it is standard for the purchasers' solicitors to also act for the mortgage company. In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your solicitor should contact your mortgage company and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own solicitors to act. You don't have to instruct a firm on the bank's conveyancing panel as you are at liberty to use your preferred Hounslow lawyers, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it may delay matters as you are adding another lawyer into the mix.
In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Hounslow? What am I being asked for?
Hounslow conveyancing solicitors and indeed property practitioners throughout the UK have an obligation under Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules to verify the identity of any client with a view to ensure that clients are who they say they are.
Conveyancing clients are required to disclose two forms of certified ID; proof of ID (usually a Passport or Driving Licence) and proof of address (typically a Utility Bill no more than three months).
Confirmation of source of funds is also necessary under the money laundering statutes as solicitors have a duty to check that the monies you are using to acquire a property (whether it be the deposit for exchange or the full purchase monies where you are buying mortgage free) has come from legitimate source (such as employment savings) rather than the proceeds of criminal activity.
I have recentlyfound out that Action Conveyancing have closed. They conducted my conveyancing in Hounslow for a purchase of a leasehold flat 12 months ago. How can I be sure that my home is in my name in the name of the former proprietor?
The easiest way to see if the property is registered to you, 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 Hounslow conveyancing specialists.
Due to the guidance of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Hounslow ahead of instructing solicitors. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. My surveyor has said that some banks may refuse to grant a loan on this type of premises.
It varies from the lender to lender. Bank of Scotland has different instructions from Nationwide. If you call us we can check via the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Hounslow. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Hounslow especially if they are familiar with such properties in Hounslow.
Are there any apps to assist me to identify a Hounslow law firm on the Nationwide Building Society conveyancing panel? I drive a motor bike and am happy to travel upto 10miles to meet the conveyancer.
You can use the search on this website. Please select a lender and your location and you will see a number of Hounslow conveyancing lawyers located nearest you. We have detailed some Hounslow conveyancing firms at the bottom of this page and you can call them to see if they are on the Nationwide Building Society member panel
My father-in-law has suggested that I appoint his lawyers for conveyancing in Hounslow. Do I follow his guidance?
Much as we are happy to recommend a Hounslow conveyancing lawyer it’s preferable to choose a conveyancing practitioner is to have guidance from friends or family who have actually used the conveyancer you're are thinking of instructing.