I am buying a garden flat in Halesworth. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Halesworth you will have to appoint a solicitor on your bank's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Halesworth.

Is there a list of Barclays panel solicitors in Halesworth on the Building Society Association’s Website?

No. There is no such facility on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association sites. A small selection of banks make their panel listings viewable over the internet. Where you are seeking to appoint a Halesworth solicitor on the Barclays please use our tool.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Halesworth off the council. I have a mortgage offer with HSBC. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with HSBC, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the HSBC conveyancing panel.

The mortgage over my property is with Virgin Money for my property in Halesworth. Conveyancing was finalised some time ago. In the event that I decide to rent out my property and do not currently have a buy-to-let mortgage do I need to remortgage to a BTL mortgage or inform Virgin Money?

Your original mortgage agreement with Virgin Money will provide that you need their approval before letting out your property as this is likely to be a breach of Virgin Money’s mortgage conditions. It may be that Virgin Money will permit you to let out your former home without needing to switch to a buy-to-let mortgage but some lenders will add a surcharge to your mortgage rate to reflect the higher risk. You should contact Virgin Money directly. It should not be necessary to do this via a Virgin Money conveyancing panel firm.

I bought my flat on 12 March and my personal details are still not registered. Any reason for this? My conveyancing solicitor in Halesworth advises it would be dealt with in less than a month. Are properties in Halesworth uniquely lengthy to register?

As far as conveyancing in Halesworth is concerned, registration is no faster or slower than the rest of England and Wales. Rather than based on location, timescales can adjust according to who lodges the application, whether there are errors and if the Land registry have to notify any interested parties. As of today approximately 80% of submission are completed in less than three weeks but some can be subject to longer hold-ups. Registration takes place once the new owner has moved in to the property therefore post completion formalities is not typically an essential issue yet if there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your solicitor could contact the land registry and explain the circumstances.

In what way can the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 affect my business offices in Halesworth and how can your lawyers assist?

The 1954 Act provides a safeguard to business leaseholders, giving them the right to apply to court for a continuation of occupancy when the lease comes to an end. There are certain specified grounds that a landlord can refuse a lease renewal and the rules are complicated. Fees are different for commercial conveyancing. Halesworth is one of our numerous areas of the UK in which our lawyers are located

Why can I not complete my conveyancing in Halesworth on a bank holiday?

Because on completion the funds needs to be transferred electronically between the banks of the buyer and seller's conveyancing practitioner and at present this can only take place on a business day. It is not possible to complete on a saturday or sunday either.