My wife and I have lately acquired a property in Elephant and Castle. We have since encountered a number of issues with the property which we believe were overlooked in the conveyancing searches. Is there anything we can do? What searches should? have been ordered as part of conveyancing in Elephant and Castle?
It is not clear from the question as what problems have arisen and if they are specific to conveyancing in Elephant and Castle. Conveyancing searches and due diligence initiated during the legal transfer of property are carried out to help avoid problems. As part of the legal transfer of property, a property owner answers a questionnaire referred to as a SPIF. If the information turns out to be misleading, then you may have a claim against the vendor for any losses that you have suffered. The survey should have identified any problems with the structure of the property. Assuming a detailed survey was carried out and the issues were not identified, you may have a claim against the surveyor. However, if you did not have a full survey, you may be responsible for fixing any defects that have now been noted. We would always encourage buyers to take every possible step to ensure they are completely aware of the condition of a property before purchase regardless of whether they are buying in Elephant and Castle.
We just had an offer accepted to buy with Melton Mowbray Building Society. I went into a couple of high street practices but am unable to find a Elephant and Castle conveyancing firm on the Melton Mowbray Building Society approved list. Could you assist?
Please do take advantage of the find a lender approved solicitor tool on this web page. Please choose the lender and type Elephant and Castle or your preferred area and you will be presented with a number of lawyer based in Elephant and Castle or near you.
My lawyer has informed me that lack of building regulations insurance is needed on my purchase. What is the typical level of cover needed for conveyancing in Elephant and Castle?
The right level of lack of building regulations indemnity insurance should be dictated by who your lender. It would differ for example between National Westminster Bank and Coventry Building Society. Conveyancing solicitors as opposed to borrowers take out such policies.
Is it the case that all Elephant and Castle solicitors on the Nationwide conveyancing panel are governed by the SRA?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the Nationwide conveyancing panel they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Some mortgage companies do permit licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such organisation would be regulated by the CLC.
I'm in the process of looking at flats in Elephant and Castle and I am about to put in an offer. Should I already have a lawyer in place at this stage? I am planning to take a mortgage with Skipton.
You should start obtaining conveyancing quotes from solicitors ASAP. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and forward their contact information on to the selling agent. Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with Skipton, ask your prospective lawyers if they are on the Skipton conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
Is it possible to swap firm as I have to choose a firm on the Godiva Mortgages Ltd conveyancing list. I was using a high street conveyancing solicitor in Elephant and Castle round the corner but the firm is not accepted by Godiva Mortgages Ltd
It would be our pleasure to assist you select a conveyancing solicitor in Elephant and Castle on the Godiva Mortgages Ltd panel. Please note that the property lawyers that we on the directory do not pay us a referral fee if you instruct them and are registered with the SRA who regulate all conveyancing solicitors in Elephant and Castle. In utilising the find a conveyancing solicitor tool on this website, you can compare fees for conveyancing solicitors in Elephant and Castle and throughout England and Wales.
I have just started marketing my garden flat in Elephant and Castle. Conveyancing has not commenced, but I have just had a half-yearly maintenance charge invoice – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?
It best that you discharge the invoice as usual given that all ground rent and service payments should be apportioned on completion, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the next payment date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. Having a clear account will assist your cause and will leave you no worse off financially.
Despite our best endeavours, we have been unsuccessful in trying to purchase the freehold in Elephant and Castle. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?
Where there is a missing landlord or where there is disagreement about what the lease extension should cost, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 it is possible to make an application to the LVT to calculate the sum to be paid.
An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Elephant and Castle property is Ground Floor Flat 39 Bronsart Road in May 2010. Following a vesting order by West London County Court the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal concluded that the price to be paid for the extended lease of the premises was Thirteen Thousand Two hundred pounds (£13,200) in accordance with the valuation. The extended lease was granted for a term of 90 years from the expiry date of the Lease and at a peppercorn ground rent from the date of the vesting order. This case related to 1 flat. The unexpired term was 74.77 years.