My partner’s sister is a property lawyer. I hope that I can be offered preferential fee for conveyancing, but if not, what kind of costs should I be paying for conveyancing in Southmead?
Do compare pricing. Make use of our search tool on this page. The prices will vary but service levels do are distinct between solicitors as is true with the vast majority of professional services.
My husband and I are buying a newly built flat in Southmead and my conveyancer is telling me that she has to the lender to reveal incentives from the developer. I am nearing the developer’s deadline to exchange contracts and I don't want to prolong deal. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your lawyer. A precondition to being on a bank panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
We are buying a apartment in Southmead. It might be a silly question 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.
Is there a list of Co-operative panel conveyancers in Southmead on the Building Society Association’s Website?
No. There is no such directory service on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association websites. Very few mortgage companies make their panel listings viewable online. Where you are in need of a Southmead conveyancer on the Co-operative please make the most of our facility.
Having digested plenty of house buying guides, I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Southmead solicitor - who is on the Principality conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?
Principality will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Principality will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. You may wish to consider appointing your own Southmead surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.
Various internet forums that I have frequented warn that are the primary cause of hinderance in Southmead house deals. Is this right?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the determinations of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure within the most frequent causes of hindrances during the legal transfer of property. Local searches are unlikely to feature in any slowing down conveyancing in Southmead.
As co-executor for the will of my father I am selling a residence in Cardiff but reside in Southmead. My solicitor (based 250 kilometers awayneeds me to execute a statutory declaration prior to completion. Can you recommend a conveyancing practitioner in Southmead who can attest this legal document for me?
Technically speaking you are unlikely to need to have the documents witnessed by a conveyancing solicitor. Ordinarily any notary public or qualified solicitor will do regardless of whether they are Southmead based
One month into buying a residence in Southmead. Conveyancing solicitor has phoned to say the property is "Leasehold". Will this likely impact the marketability of the house?
Southmead conveyancing does not usually involve leasehold houses. The crucial consideration here is the unexpired lease term and the ground rent. If there are hundred of years years remaining with a peppercorn rent, it's virtually freehold, so it shouldn't impact the saleability too much.
At the other end of the spectrum, if it's, say, Sixty years it is bound to have a material impact on the saleability, and most likely wouldn't be acceptable to the mortgage company. The length of lease and ground rent will be specified in the lease to be supplied to your lawyer.