Recently contacted my conveyancing solicitor in Otford who completed the legal work 18 months ago and wanted a conveyancing costs illustration based on the same type of home move (a leasehold property and a freehold premises) of almost identical values with a loan from Lloyds TSB Bank. I am now being charged double. Better the devil I know or do I try and find an alternative property lawyer?
The estimate does seem a tad overpriced. If you you were to look around you may be able to reduce the fees marginally by as much as £125. On the other hand, providing that you were pleased with the conveyancing the firm offered you maycome to rue choosing an an unknown solicitor. If is important to be sure the solicitor can act for Lloyds TSB Bank. You can utilise our search tool to select a Otford conveyancing firm on the Lloyds TSB Bank member panel, which can often include conveyancing solicitors in Otford.
In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Otford? What am I being asked for?
It is indeed that case that these requests have nothing to do with conveyancing in Otford. Nowadays you will not be able to complete any conveyancing transaction if you have not supplying proof of your identity. This usually takes the form of a either your passport or driving licence and a utility bill. Please note that if you are providing your driving licence as proof of identification it must be both the paper part as well as the photo card part, one is not acceptable without the other.
Proof of your origin of monies is mandated in accordance with the Money Laundering Regulations. You should not be offended when you are asked to produce this as your lawyer must retain this information on file. Your Otford conveyancing lawyer will require evidence of proof of funds prior to accepting any monies from you into their client account and they should also ask further queries concerning the origin of funds.
We're in Otford, First timers purchasing with a mortgage (lender is Kent Reliance , and our solicitor is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Kent Reliance conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancing practitioner should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.
We are buying a flat in Otford. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a solicitor? On the day of competition we have to put money into their account. What is the protection we have from them run away with our deposit?
Be assured that all money in a Solicitors client account is 100% safe, and even if your Solicitor ran off with it, the Law Society would reimburse you fully.
I am helping my niece sell her flat in Otford. Does the solicitor commission an EPC or do I organise this?
After the abolition of Home Information Packs, energy assessments was retained a required part of selling a house. An EPC needs to be commissioned in advance of the property being advertised. This is not as aspect of the sale process that solicitors ordinarily organise. Where you are instructing a Otford conveyancing lawyer they may be able to arrange energy performance certificates given their relationships with reputable local assessors
I am purchasing a property in Otford. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Lloyds have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with Lloyds your lawyer must comply with the formal requirements outlined in Part two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Lloyds. The CML Handbook sets out minimum specifications for solar panel roof-space leases, and property lawyers are required to report to Lloyds where a lease fails to meet these provisions. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales and is not isolated to Otford.
My husband and I are new on the property ladder - had an offer accepted, yet the estate agent advised that the owners will only proceed if we use the agent's recommended conveyancers as they are insisting on an ‘expedited deal’. My instinct tells me that we should use a local solicitor accustomed to conveyancing in Otford
It is improbable the vendors are driving this. If they desire ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a motivated buyer is is going to put the whole deal at risk. Speak to the owners direct and make the point that (a)you are motivated purchasers (b)you are excited to move forward, with finances in place © you have nothing to sell (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)however you intend to use your preferred Otford conveyancing lawyers - not the ones that will earn their negotiator at the agency a introducer fee or meet his conveyancing thresholds set by senior management.
I have recently had an offer accepted on a leasehold flat in Otford and the mortgage adviser that we are dealing with recommended his solicitor. He quoted nine hundred pounds including VAT and disbursements. Does this sound reasonable?
You should not rely on a single estimate. One should seek like-for-like quotes for your conveyancing in Otford. Then select one that you trust and crucially, is on the approved panel of the lender that you are sourcing your mortgage from.