What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Hanley? What am I being asked for?

You are right in these requests have nothing to do with conveyancing in Hanley. Nowadays you will not be able to complete any conveyancing transaction if you have not submitting evidence of your identity. This usually takes the form of a either your passport or driving licence and a utility bill. Please note that if you are providing your driving licence as proof of ID it needs to be both the paper section as well as the photo card part, one is not sufficient without the other.

Verification of the source of money is necessary in accordance with the Money Laundering Regulations. Don’t be offended when when this is requested of you as your conveyancing solicitor will need to have this information on record. Your Hanley conveyancing practitioner will need to see evidence of proof of funds before they are able to accept any funds from you into their client account and they will also ask additional queries concerning the origin of monies.

we are a couple who are purchasing a 1 bedroom apartment in Hanley with a loan from Accord Mortgages Ltd.We have a Hanley conveyancing solicitor but Accord Mortgages Ltd informed us she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint a Accord Mortgages Ltd panel firm or retain our local solicitor and fork out for one of their panel ones to represent them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?

No, not really. The home loan issued to you contains various provisions, a common one being that lawyers must be on the Accord Mortgages Ltd approved list. Until recently, most mortgage companies had large numbers of solicitors on their panels: a borrower could find one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Accord Mortgages Ltd

Do I need to take out insurance to protect me from financial exposure to chancel repairs when acquiring a house in Hanley?

Unless a prior purchase of the premises took place post 12 October 2013 you may take it that solicitors carrying out conveyancing in Hanley to continue to recommend a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.

Just had an offer accepted on a new build apartment in Hanley. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.

Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Hanley

Please provide evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified.

I have been on the look out for a flat up to £195,000 and found one near me in Hanley I like with open areas and transport links in the vicinity, however it's only got 49 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Hanley suitable, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error buying a lease with such few years left?

If you need a mortgage that many years will likely be a potential deal breaker. Reduce the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing owner has owned the premises for at least twenty four months you can request that they commence the lease extension formalities and then assign it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the current lease and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing lawyer about this matter.