We were about to choose a conveyancing solicitor in Binstead recommended on your site but stumbled across some other costs illustrations on the internet look less expensive – how come?

There are hundreds of conveyancers marketing at first sight what seems to be very low prices. We would urge you to give due consideration about how important this transaction is to you that want to take 'cheap' risks with regard to the standard of the conveyancing. Many of them list a budget fee as a headline but bury additional costs in the fine print..

What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Binstead? Why is this being asked of me?

You are right in these requests have nothing to do with conveyancing in Binstead. However these days you can not proceed with any conveyancing deal in the absence handing over proof of your identity. This usually takes the form of a either your passport or driving licence and a utility bill. Please note that if you are providing your driving licence as evidence of ID it needs to be both the paper element as well as the photo card part, one is not satisfactory without the other.

Verification of the source of monies is necessary under Money Laundering Regulations. You should not be offended when you are asked to produce this as your conveyancing solicitor must retain this information on record. Your Binstead conveyancing lawyer will need to see evidence of proof of funds prior to accepting any monies from you into their client account and they will also ask additional queries concerning the source of monies.

I appreciate that there are debates on Chancel Insurance on online forums. Do I require this when acquiring a property in Binstead? or I am told that there is a law dating back centuries that could mean that house owners living in a parish church boundary may be liable to pay for maintenance to the chancel in proximity to the church. Is this applicable for conveyancing in Binstead?

Unless a prior purchase of the property completed post 12 October 2013 you could expect lawyers handling conveyancing in Binstead to continue to advocate a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

I purchased a 4 bedroom Edwardian house in Binstead. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Godiva Mortgages Ltd. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold under the matching address. Is it worth asking Godiva Mortgages Ltd to clarify?

You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Binstead and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also check the situation with your conveyancing lawyer who conducted the work.

When it comes to my conveyancing in Binstead should I be charged VAT on the following: (1) Land reg fee on purchase (2) Pre - completion search fee (3) SDLT E submission on purchase (4) Bank TT fee

(1) Land reg fee on purchase - No (2) Pre - completion search fees -No, (such conveyancing searches are HMLR ones and means £4 and possibly £2 bankruptcy per name on your mortgage) (3) SDLT E submission on your purchase - There is no VAT on Stamp Duty. However if the firm is charging a stamp duty e-submission fee as part of their services - some Binstead conveyancers do - that will incur VAT(4) Bank transfer fee - Yes it is for the conveyancing practitioner's time in submitting the funds this way.