In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Catterick Garrison? Is this really warranted?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to check the ID of the potential client they are dealing with before they can accept their conveyancing retainer. The Terms of Engagement that you need to sign should reaffirm this. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with the CML Lenders Handbook requirements last updated on 1st December 2014. Where you are unwilling to provide ID verification documents, your conveyancer will not be able to take you on as a client.

I had intended to instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Catterick Garrison for our house purchase. Our financial adviser informed us that our bank Aldermore won't deal with them. Why is this not regarded as unfair competition?

Mortgage Companies normally imposes restrictions either the type or the number of conveyancing solicitors on their panel. A common example of such restriction(s) being that a firm must not be a sole practitioner. As well as restricting the profile of firm, some have reduced the amount of solicitor practices they use to act for them. Be aware that Aldermore have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any member of Aldermore Conveyancer Panel. Mortgage fraud was a primary driver in the reduction of conveyancing panels a few years ago even though there are mixed views about the extent of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Figures from the Land Registry reveal that thousands of law firms, including some in or near Catterick Garrison only execute one or two conveyances a year.

My wife and I are purchasing a apartment in Catterick Garrison. I might seem paranoid but how we can trust a conveyancer? On completion day we will need 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.

Can I be sure that the Catterick Garrison conveyancing solicitor on the Nationwide panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in Catterick Garrison getting recommendations is a good start. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advocate that you speak with the lawyer conducting your conveyancing.

I recently had an offer accepted on an apartment in Catterick Garrison. My financial adviser pressured me to appoint their solicitor. I paid an advanced payment of £225. A few days later, the property lawyer contacted me embarrassingly acknowledging that they were not on the Santander conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?

You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Santander panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.

A relative recommended that where I am buying in Catterick Garrison I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. Can you explain what the purpose of this search is?

This is a search is sometimes quoted for as part of the standard Catterick Garrison conveyancing searches. It is a large report of more than thirty pages, listing and setting out significant information about Catterick Garrison around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the local Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime statistics, Local Education with maps and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data regarding Catterick Garrison.

Me and my partner have recently had a bid accepted on our 1st house in Catterick Garrison, and are about to get solicitors instructed. We have made use of the numerous rating tools and the quotes are from all over the country. Is it critical to have a Catterick Garrison property lawyer local to the prospective house? I am fine to do all the communicating electronically, but I guess at some point we will be required to visit the conveyancer's office to sign documents?

There is no requirement to attend the office of your solicitor, they can send any relevant contracts to you, which you can sign and send back. Many buyers and sellers prefer to use a locally based solicitor, but it is not essential for conveyancing in Catterick Garrison.