The Amesbury conveyancing firm that I appointed last week on my purchase in Amesbury have without warning closed. They were on acting for me because I needed a firm on the Principality conveyancing panel and my preferred Amesbury lawyer was not. I gave my credit card details for them to take one hundred and fifty pounds for searches. What do I do now?
If you have an estate agent involved then inform them immediately so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to the problems encountered. Most sellers would be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the Principality conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors may be able to assist.
We had instructed conveyancing lawyers locally in Amesbury on the Santander solicitor panel. They have just invoiced me a separate charge for dealing with the Santander mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee set by Santander?
Unfortunately, as long as it is in their Terms and Conditions or Quote then yes your conveyancer can charge a fee for this. The charge is not dictated by Santander but by your Amesbury property lawyer. Numerous firms on the Santander panel will quote ’dealing with mortgage’ fee but many practices include it on their overall fee.
We were going to get a AIP from Nottingham this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Nottingham recommend any Amesbury solicitors on the Nottingham conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?
You will need to appoint Amesbury solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Nottingham conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Nottingham through the process.
I can not work out if my lender obliges me to make sure the lease term for the flat is extended prior to the completion date. I have called my Amesbury building society branch on various occasions and was told they are content with the situation and they will lend. My Amesbury conveyancing solicitor - who is on the mortgage company conveyancing panel- telephoned to say that they refuse to lend in accordance with their published requirements. I have no idea who is right.
Provided that the property lawyer is on the lender approved list, she or he must adhere to the CML Handbook requirements for the bank. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the mortgage company to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.
Due to the input of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Amesbury in advance of retaining solicitors. I have been told that there is a flying freehold element to the property. The surveyor advised that some lenders tend not grant a loan on this type of house.
It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different instructions for example to Halifax. Should you wish to telephone us we can check with the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Amesbury. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Amesbury to see if the conveyancing costs will increase in light of this.
I'm refinancing my current property to a buy to let mortgage with Barnsley Building Society and intend to use the remaining equity as a down payment on further property. The neighborhood we are interested in is Amesbury. Will your lawyers be able to act for both sets of lenders and link together the conveyances?
Do use our search tool on this site to ensure that the conveyancers are on the relevant lender panels. On the basis that they are the lawyer will be able to simultaneously deal with the two conveyancing matters but you should have a chat with you lawyer and specify your expectations and needs.
My husband and I are first time buyers - agreed a price, yet the estate agent informed us that the seller will only issue a contract if we appoint the agent's recommended solicitors as they are insisting on a ‘quick sale’. We would rather use a local solicitor accustomed to conveyancing in Amesbury
It is unlikely the owners are driving this. If they require ‘a quick sale', alienating a serious purchaser is not the way to achieve this. Speak to the vendors direct and make sure they comprehend that (a)you are motivated buyers (b)you are ready to progress, with finances arranged © you are chain free (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)but you will continue to use your own,trusted Amesbury conveyancing lawyers - not the ones that will provide the estate agent a commission or meet his conveyancing figures demanded by HQ.