My partner and I are buying a brand new flat in Groby and my conveyancer is informing me that she has to the mortgage company to disclose incentives from the seller. I am under pressure to sign contracts and I would rather not delay matters. Is my lawyer right?
You should not exchange unless you have been advised to do so by your property lawyer. A precondition to being on a bank 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.
My partner and I are downsizing from our home in Groby and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being constructed land that was not decontaminated. A high street Groby lawyer would know this is not the case. It does beg the question why the purchasers are using an internet conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Groby. Having lived in Groby for many years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to contact our local Authority to seek clarification that there is no issue.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing solicitor already. Are they able to advise? You should check with 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)
Despite weeks of looking the Title Certificate and documents to my home can not be found. The conveyancers who conducted the conveyancing in Groby 5 years ago have long since closed. What are my options?
As long as the title is registered the information relating to your ownership will be held by HMLR with a Title Number. It is easy to conduct a search at the Land Registry, find your property and obtain current copies of the property title for a small fee. Where the property is Leasehold then the Land Registry will also normally hold a certified duplicate of the Registered Lease and again, a copy can be obtained for £20 inclusive of VAT.
I have been on the look out for a leasehold apartment up to £195,000 and found one close by in Groby I like with open areas and station in the vicinity, however it only has 61 remaining years left on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Groby in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a mistake purchasing a lease with such few years left?
If you need a home loan the shortness of the lease will likely be an issue. Discount the offer by the expected lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the property for at least 2 years you may request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term with a zero ground rent applied. You should speak to your conveyancing solicitor about this matter.
My partner has recommend that I appoint his conveyancers in Groby. Should I use them?
Much as we are happy to recommend a Groby conveyancing lawyer the best way to select a conveyancing lawyer is to get feedback from friends or family who have actually previously instructed the firm that you are considering.