My wife and I have recently acquired a house in Harwich. We have noticed several issues with the house which we suspect were missed in the conveyancing searches. Is there anything we can do? Can you clarify the nature of searches that needed to have been ordered as part of conveyancing in Harwich?
It is not clear from the question as what problems have arisen and if they are unique to conveyancing in Harwich. Conveyancing searches and investigations undertaken during the buying process are supposed to help avoid problems. As part of the legal transfer of property, a seller answers a questionnaire known as a SPIF. answers is inaccurate, you may have a misrepresentation claim against the owner for any losses that you have suffered. The survey should have identified any problems with the structure of the property. Assuming a detailed survey was carried out and the issues were not identified, you may have a claim against the surveyor. However, if you did not have a full survey, you may be responsible for fixing any defects that have now been noted. We would always encourage buyers to take every possible step to ensure they are completely aware of the condition of a property before purchase regardless of whether they are buying in Harwich.
What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Harwich? Why is this being asked of me?
Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to verify the ID of the person or body they are dealing with prior to agreeing to accepting their conveyancing retainer. The Terms of Engagement that you are required to sign will no doubt confirm this. Your lawyer also has obligations to obtain certain documents in accordance with the CML Lenders Handbook requirements last updated on 1st December 2014. Should you are unwilling to provide ID verification documents, your conveyancer can not take you on as a client.
Various online forums that I have frequented warn that are the primary cause of hinderance in Harwich conveyancing transactions. Is there any truth in this?
The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) published findings of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature within the most frequent causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Searches are not likely to feature in any holding up conveyancing in Harwich.
Should I instruct a Harwich conveyancing lawyer based in the area that I am buying? I have an old university friend who can conduct the conveyancing however her office is over three hundred kilometers drive away.
The primary upside of using a high street Harwich conveyancing firm is that you can drop in to sign paperwork, present your ID and pester them where appropriate. Having local Harwich know how is a benefit. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust instructed your friend and the majority were impressed that must trump using an unknown Harwich conveyancing solicitor solely due to them being Harwich based.
We are in the process of buying a flat in Harwich. Could our conveyancing practitioner keep the amount we are are buying for confidential from sites such as Zoopla. How could this be done?
The Land Registry are legally bound to disclose price paid information on the official title for domestic properties nationwide including premises in Harwich. The register of ownership is an open document, so the Land Registry would be breaking the law excluded certain properties such as the one in Harwich.
In essence you can ask HM Land Registry to withhold the amount paid data however the response will be in the negative.