It is 10 years ago since I acquired my property in Alston. Conveyancing solicitors have just been retained on the sale but I can't locate the title deeds. Is this a major issue?
You need not be too concerned. Firstly there is a possibility that the deeds will be kept by your lender or they may be in the possession of the conveyancers who handled the purchase. Secondly in most cases the title will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to prove you own the property by your conveyancing lawyers acquiring up to date copy of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in Alston involves registered property but in the rare situation where your home is not registered it is more problematic but is resolvable.
My wife and I are close to exchanging contracts on the sale of our house in Alston and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was constructed on contaminated land. Any local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the buyers are using a nationwide conveyancing firm as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Alston. We have lived in Alston for six years we know that this is a non issue. Should we get in touch with our local Authority to seek clarification that there is no issue.
It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer already. What do they say? You must enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same illness)
It has been 3 months since my purchase conveyancing in Alston took place. I have checked the Land Registry website which shows that I paid £175,000 when infact I paid £180,000. Why the discrepancy?
The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the property from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.
Given that I will soon part with £400,000 on a property in Alston I would like to talk to a conveyancer regarding thehome move before instructing the firm. Is this something that you can arrange?
This is something that we recommend - we would be delighted to talk to you we do not take any clients on without you liaising with the solicitor who will be doing your property ownership legalities in Alston.There is no ‘factory style conveyancing’ - each client is unique person, not a matter reference. The solicitors that we put you in touch with believe that the figure you are provided with for your conveyancing in Alston should be the amount on the final invoice that you are charged.
My husband and I are novice buyers - agreed a price, but the estate agent informed us that the seller will only proceed if we appoint the agent's preferred lawyers as they are insisting on an ‘expedited deal’. We would rather use a family solicitor used to conveyancing in Alston
It is improbable the sellers are behind this. If they desire ‘a quick sale', alienating a serious purchaser is going to damage their objectives. Bypass the agents and go straight to the owners and explain that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to progress, with mortgage lined up © you are unencumbered (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)but you are going to use your own,trusted Alston conveyancing lawyers - not the ones that will earn the estate agent a commission or hit his conveyancing targets set by corporate headquarters.