In the event thatI were to buy a freehold homein Grays for cash and dispense with a survey and no conveyancing searches how much could I expect to have to pay for conveyancing in Grays?
The sole reduction in fees you would achieve is the Grays conveyancing searches. Your lawyer is required to do the vast majority of work - money laundering, correspond with your vendors conveyancing practitioner, SDLT return, register the ownership etc. A marginal saving might be made by not needing to register a mortgage but it won't be a lot.
My bid for a property was accepted at auction in Grays. Conveyancing is necessary. What is next?
Having exchanged you will need to appoint a conveyancing practitioner as a matter of urgency as you are facing a tight a fixed date to complete the purchase. An auction property will ordinarily have a corresponding legal set of papers. This should include evidence of title and search results. If you have purchased leasehold property the auction papers should include a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and associated conveyancing documentation pertinent to leasehold premises. You need to pass this on to the lawyer instructed by you ASAP. You also need to ensure that you have funds in place to complete the transaction on the set completion date.
We expect to receive a AIP from UBS this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do UBS recommend any Grays solicitors on the UBS conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?
You will need to appoint Grays solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the UBS conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and UBS through the process.
I have paid off my mortgage with Barclays. I assume I don't need a Grays conveyancing practitioner on the Barclays panel to discharge the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?
If you have finished paying off your Barclays mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Barclays mortgage from the register. Barclays, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:
- but are not moving to another property
- where Barclays has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
- Barclays has instructed the Land Registry to do so
I used Stirling Law a few years ago for my conveyancing in Grays. Now, I need my documents but the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?
Do contact the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracking down your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Grays of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
How does conveyancing in Grays differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Grays come to us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is completed. This is because new home sellers in Grays tend to purchase the land, 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 conveyancers 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 used to new build conveyancing in Grays or who has acted in the same development.
What tools are available to find a Grays conveyancing solicitor on the bank conveyancing panel? I have a car and am prepared to travel up to 25kilometers to attend the lawyer.
Feel free to make use of the find a conveyancing panel tool on this website. Please choose the lender and your location, in this case Grays and you will see a number of lawyer located nearest Grays. Alternatively you can type in the name of your proposed law firm and see if they are listed as being on the lender solicitor panel.