I have given 2 months notice to my current landlord and must be out of my let out flat in Cotham by the end of next month. Conveyancing for my house purchase is progressing. How realistic is it to complete in a couple of weeks as don't want to have to find short term accommodation?
It is unwise to provide notice on a rental until exchange of contracts has taken place. If you have not already done so, contact to your conveyancer and request that they seek the assistance the owners lawyers, try to get a realistic time scale from them that everyone will look to achieve
Having sold my house in Cotham last December yet the purchaser is telephoning every few hours to moan that her solicitor needs to hear from mine. What should have happened now that I have sold?
Following your disposal your lawyer should send the transfer deeds and all additional paperwork to the purchaser's solicitors. Where relevant, your conveyancer must also confirm that the legal charge in favour of the lender has been redeemed to the purchasers lawyers. There are no post completion procedures peculiar conveyancing in Cotham.
I am assisting my sister sell her property in Cotham. Does the conveyancing solicitor commission an energy assessment or do I organise this?
After the abolition of HIPs, EPC’s became a compulsory element of selling a property. An energy performance certificate should be to hand prior to the property being advertised. It is not something that lawyers ordinarily organise. If you are instructing a Cotham conveyancing practitioner they may help arrange energy assessments due to their relationships with reputable Cotham providers
We have agreed to purchase a house in Cotham. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Leeds Building Society be concerned?
Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with Leeds Building Society your lawyer must check the conveyancing instructions set out in Section 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Leeds Building Society. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook includes minimum provisions for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancers are required to report to Leeds Building Society where a lease fails to satisfy these provisions. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not isolated to Cotham.
I have finally had an offer on a maisonette in Cotham agreed to, but there is a chain. The owners have placed an offer on a property, but it’s not been accepted yet, and are looking at other flats booked. I have selected a high street conveyancing solicitor in Cotham. What do I do now? When do I get the mortgage application with Santander started?
It is usual to have apprehensions where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket too early (mortgage application is approx £1k, then valuation, Cotham conveyancing search costs, etc). First, you must check that your conveyancer is on the Santander approved list. Concerning the subsequent stages this very much depends on the uniqueness of your case, motivation for the property and on the state of the market. In a buoyant market some purchasers would apply for a home loan with Santander and pay for the valuation and only if it was satisfactory would they ask their property lawyer to proceed with searches.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I have offered on two weeks back in what should have been a simple, no chain conveyancing. Cotham is the location of the property. Is there any guidance you can impart?
Flying freeholds in Cotham are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Cotham you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Cotham may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.
I was recommended by numerous estate agents in Cotham to get a quote from a property lawyer using your seach tool. What’s the financial upside for Estate Agents to offer your lawyers over and above another?
We don’t offer any commission for sending work in our direction. We found it would be just too difficult to pay a commission because home movers will think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I getting any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.