I require conveyancing for a flat in a fairly new development (seven years old) in Harold Wood. Almost all the appartments have already been disposed of. Is it strictly necessary to order neighbourhood searches for my conveyancing in Harold Wood?

You are putting yourself at risk in failing carrying out Harold Wood conveyancing searches. Without searches you have no clarity over flooding, environmental etc which may mean you walk away due to potential problems down the line. If you are buying without a mortgage there is no legal requirement to have them, but we would absolutely advise in no uncertain terms that you have them. If time pressures and expenses are primary concerns you should consider with your conveyancer about the possibility of search insurance

As someone unfamiliar with the Harold Wood conveyancing process what’s the number one tip you can impart for the ownership transfer in Harold Wood

You may not hear this from too many lawyers but conveyancing in Harold Wood and elsewhere in England and Wales is often a confrontational experience. In other words, when it comes to conveyancing there is an abundance of room for friction between you and others involved in the transaction. For instance, the seller, selling agent and sometimes a mortgage company. Appointing a lawyer for your conveyancing in Harold Wood should not be taken lightly as your conveyancer is your adviser, and is the ONE party in the process whose responsibility is to act in your legal interests and to protect you.

There is a definite ongoing adversarial element to conveyancing- someone must be blamed for the process being so protracted. We recommend that you your first instinct should be to trust your conveyancer above all other parties in the conveyancing process.

Will our lawyer be asking questions concerning flooding during the conveyancing in Harold Wood.

Flooding is a growing risk for lawyers specialising in conveyancing in Harold Wood. Some people will purchase a property in Harold Wood, fully expectant that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, if a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, adequate insurance cover, or sell the property. There are steps that can be taken during the course of a property purchase to forewarn the buyer.

Conveyancers are not best placed to give advice on flood risk, but there are a various searches that can be undertaken by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which will give them a better understanding of the risks in Harold Wood. The standard property information forms supplied to a buyer’s lawyer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) includes a standard question of the owner to determine if the property has historically flooded. If the residence has been flooded in past and is not revealed by the owner, then a purchaser may commence a compensation claim resulting from an incorrect response. The buyer’s solicitors should also conduct an environmental report. This should indicate whether there is a recorded flood risk. If so, additional investigations will need to be conducted.

Me and my brother purchased a renovated Georgian property in Harold Wood. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and Alliance & Leicester . I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same property. Is it worth asking Alliance & Leicester to clarify?

You should assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Harold Wood and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also check the situation with the conveyancing lawyer who conducted the work.

Please set out some of compelling advantages to choosing a high street conveyancing practitioner in Harold Wood

Lots of house movers in Harold Wood choose a nearby high street conveyancer so that they can pop into the firm’s offices in the event that they have problems, and to sign documents without using the Royal Mail.

There is a distinct advantage when using a conveyancer nearby to a premises you are purchasing, due to the in-depth knowledge of the region and possible local issues - yet this is debatable. Most conveyancers conduct their work via email and could be practically anywhere.