My wife and I are hoping to acquire a house in East Sussex and have instructed a East Sussex conveyancing practice. Within the past 48 hours our conveyancer has sent a preliminary report and documents to look through in anticipation of exchanging contracts shortly. Norwich and Peterborough Building Society have this evening contacted us to inform me that there is now an issue as our East Sussex lawyer is not on their approved list of lawyers. Is this a problem?
When purchasing a property with mortgage finance it is conventional for the purchasers' lawyers to also represent the purchaser's lender. In order to act for a bank or building society a law firm has to be on that lender's conveyancing panel. An application has to be made by the law firm to the lender to become a member of the lender's panel and there are increasingly strict criteria which the firm has to satisfy and indeed some lenders now require their panel members to be part of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme. Your solicitor should contact your lender and see if they can apply for membership of their conveyancing panel, but if that is not viable they will instruct their own lawyers to represent them. You are not legally obliged to appoint a law firm on the lender’s conveyancing panel as you are at liberty to use your preferred East Sussex lawyers, in which case your legal fees may increase, and it may delay matters as you have another set of people involved.
My partner and I are acquiring a new build apartment in East Sussex and my lawyer is telling me that she has to the lender to reveal incentives from the developer. I am on a tight deadline to sign contracts and I don't want to prolong the conveyancing. is my lawyer playing by the book?
You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your property lawyer. A precondition to being on a mortgage company panel is to comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements. The CML Conveyancing Handbook requires that your lawyer have the appropriate Disclosure of Incentive form completed by the developer and accepted by your lender.
I need some quick conveyancing in East Sussex as I have pressure to sign on the dotted line within 4 weeks. Thankfully I do not require a mortgage. Is it possible to avoid the conveyancing searches to save fees and time?
As you are are a mortgage free purchaser you have the choice not to have searches carried out although no lawyer would advise that you don't. Drawing on our experience of conveyancing in East Sussex the following are examples of issues that can arise and therefore impact future saleability: Refused Planning Applications, Outstanding Fees, Overdue Grants, Unadopted Roads,...
I have todaybeen informed that Arc property Solicitors have been shut down. They carried out my conveyancing in East Sussex for a purchase of a freehold house 10 months ago. How can I be sure that my home is not still registered in the name of the former proprietor?
The easiest way to check if the premises is in your name, you can make a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of East Sussex conveyancing specialists.
My business partner and I are intending to lease a unit on the high street. Can you recommend lawyers offering fixed costs for non-domestic conveyancing in East Sussex for under 2k?
We are happy to recommend firms who have an in-depth of experience of commercial conveyancing in East Sussex, including the sale and acquisition of businesses as well as simply property. Whether you are hoping to buy or sell a shop, pub, restaurant, office, retail premises or a complete business we can put you in touch with the right solicitor. As for the charges these will vary based on the structure and complexity of the proposed transaction. Please provide us with your details or telephone so as to enable us to provide you with a detailed commercial conveyancing calculation.