I just bought a house at auction in Hampshire. Conveyancing is needed. What are my next steps?

Given that you are now legally bound yourself to purchase you will need to appoint a conveyancing practitioner soon as you are faced with a fast approaching deadline in which to complete the purchase. An auction property should have an associated legal pack. This will likely include most,if not all of the paperwork that your lawyer requires. Where you are dealing with leasehold premises the conveyancing pack should provide a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and associated conveyancing documentation pertinent to leasehold premises. You should pass this on to your appointed conveyancing solicitor as soon as possible. Do make sure that that you have the requisite funding organised to complete on the date specified in the contract.

Two weeks ago we had a mortgage agreed in principle with Santander. Hampshire conveyancing lawyers were appointed. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from Santander?

Some lenders take longer than others. Have Santander conducted the survey? Have you informed Santander as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the Santander conveyancing panel? It is not unusual for a mortgage offer to take a month to come through.

Completion of my remortgage has taken place for my property in Hampshire. Conveyancing was of an acceptable standard but I feel I should register my dissatisfaction about the lender. How do I make a complaint?

Most lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Department at head office. In most cases complaints to a lender are resolved effectively and efficiently. However if you are not satisfied that the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.

I am purchasing a property and the lawyer has mentioned Chancel Repair to which the property could be obligated to pay given it’s proximity to the area of such a church. She has mentioned insurance. Is this strictly warranted for conveyancing in Hampshire

Unless a prior purchase of the premises completed post 12 October 2013 you can expect lawyers carrying out conveyancing in Hampshire to continue to recommend a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.

Have completed on a a terraced house in Hampshire , What is the estimated time for the Land Registry to deal with the formalities evidencing the transfer to my name? My Hampshire conveyancing solicitor has been very slow, so I want to check that my ownership is recorded.

There is nothing unique about conveyancing in Hampshire registration formalities. Rather than based on location, timescales can vary depending on who lodges the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry must send notices to any third parties. As of today roughly 80% of submission are fully addressed within two weeks but some can be subject to extensive hold-ups. Historically registration is effected after the new owner has moved in to the premises therefore post completion formalities is not usually an essential issue but if there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your solicitor should speak with the land registry and explain the circumstances.

How does conveyancing in Hampshire differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Hampshire come to us having been asked by the builder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is finished. This is because builders in Hampshire typically purchase 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 Hampshire or who has acted in the same development.

Been reading online that Hampshire solicitors are more expensive than licensed conveyancers in Hampshire to use when buying a house. So is it better if I use a conveyancer or a solicitor where I am purchasing a house in Hampshire.

When it comes to conveyancing in Hampshire the costs are unlikely to vary dramatically depending on whether the legal expert is a licenced conveyancer or solicitor.