It is is a decade since I purchased my home in Catshill. Conveyancing solicitors have just been retained on the sale but I can't locate the deeds. Is this a problem?
You need not be too concerned. Firstly there is a chance that the deeds will be with the lender or they could be in the possession of the lawyers who handled the purchase. Secondly the likelihood is that the property will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to prove you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors acquiring up to date copy of the land registers. Most conveyancing in Catshill involves registered property but in the unlikely event that your home is not registered it is more of a problem but is resolvable.
Will my conveyancing lawyers need to check that the building insurance when buying a house in Catshill. My lender is The Mortgage Works
The Mortgage Works have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 4/10/2025, the requirements read as follows :
My partner and I are close to exchanging contracts on the sale of our house in Catshill and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being constructed land that was not decontaminated. Any high street Catshill lawyer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the purchasers are using a web based conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Catshill. We have lived in Catshill for 4 years we know that this is a non issue. Should we contact our local Authority to get confirmation that there is no issue.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing solicitor currently acting for you. What do they say? You need to 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 life insurance to cover that same sickness)
How does conveyancing in Catshill differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Catshill come to us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is constructed. This is because house builders in Catshill usually acquire the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Catshill or who has acted in the same development.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I put an offer in last month in what was supposed to be a simple, no chain conveyancing. Catshill is where the house is located. Is there any advice you can impart?
Flying freeholds in Catshill are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Catshill you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Catshill 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.