What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Heathrow? Why is this being asked of me?

To satisfy the Money Laundering Regulations any Heathrow conveyancing firm will require evidence of your identity in all conveyancing transactions. This is usually dealt with by provision of a passport and an original bank statement or utility account evidencing your correct address.

In accordance with Money Laundering Regulations, conveyancers are duty bound to validate not simply the ID of conveyancing clients but also the origin of the money that they receive in respect of any matter. Refusal to disclose this will result in your solicitor terminating their relationship with you, as clearly this will cause a conflict between the set Regulations and a refusal to disclose.

Your property lawyers are duty bound to notify the appropriate authorities should they believe that any monies received by them may contravene the Money Laundering Regulations.

I am buying a terraced house in Heathrow. Conveyancing solicitors are said to be ‘a necessary evil’ but can I do it myself?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Heathrow you will have to appoint a solicitor on your mortgage company's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Heathrow.

I am purchasing a victorian detached house in Heathrow. Our aim is to carry out a loft conversion at the house.Will legal conveyancing on the property include checks to see if these works are prohibited?

Your conveyancer should check the registered title as conveyancing in Heathrow will occasionally reveal restrictions in the title documents which prevent certain works or need the consent of another owner. Certain works call for local authority planning consent and approval under the building regulations. Some locations are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which often prevent or impact extensions. You should check these issues with a surveyor before you commit yourself to a purchase.

We have agreed to purchase a house in Heathrow. An unusual aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Solicitors conducting should look into this right? Will my lender Co-operative be concerned?

Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with Co-operative your lawyer must follow the formal requirements outlined in Part two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Co-operative. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook includes minimum conditions for solar panel roof-space leases, and conveyancing practitioners are required to report to Co-operative where a lease does not comply with these specifications. The specifications relate to the installation of panels on properties in England and Wales and is not isolated to Heathrow.

I can not work out if my lender requires a lease extension. I have called into my local Heathrow building society branch on a couple of occasions and was advised it wasn't a problem and they will lend. My Heathrow conveyancing solicitor - who is on the bank conveyancing panel- telephoned to say that they would not lend in accordance with their UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook minimum lease term requirements. Who do I believe?

As long as the property lawyer is on the bank approved list, they must comply with the CML Handbook conditions for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the bank will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the mortgage company to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years left on the lease.

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified during conveyancing in Heathrow?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Heathrow. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’

I have been on the look out for a ground for flat up to £195,000 and identified one close by in Heathrow I like with amenity areas and railway links in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 49 remaining years left on the lease. There is not much else in Heathrow in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a lease with such few years left?

If you need a mortgage the shortness of the lease may be an issue. Reduce the price by the amount the lease extension will cost if it has not already been discounted. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for at least 2 years you can ask them to commence the lease extension formalities and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease with a zero ground rent applied. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor about this.