We're in Knightsbridge, First time buyers buying with a mortgage (lender is Skipton , and our solicitor is on the Skipton conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Skipton conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancer should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.
Forgive me if this question is silly but I am wet behind the ears as FTB of a two bedroom flat in Knightsbridge. Do I collect the keys to the property on the completion date from my lawyer? If this is the case, I will use a local conveyancing solicitor in Knightsbridge?
There is no need to visit the lawyers office on the day of completion. Conveyancing lawyers for you will transfer the purchase money to the vendor’s solicitors, and shortly after the monies have arrived, you should be called to collect the keys from the property Agents and start moving into the property. This tends to happen between 1 and 3pm.
My stepmother pointed out to me me that in buying a property in Knightsbridge there could be various restrictions affecting the ability to carry out external alterations to a property. Is this right?
We are aware of a number of properties in Knightsbridge which have some sort of restriction or requirement of consent to perform external changes. Part of the conveyancing in Knightsbridge should determine what restrictions are applicable and advising you as part of a ROT that should be sent to you.
My wife and I buying a victorian detached house in Knightsbridge. Our aim is to convert the garage to a playroom at the property.Will the conveyancing process include checks to determine if these works are prohibited?
Your property lawyer will review the registered title as conveyancing in Knightsbridge will on occasion reveal restrictions in the title deeds which prohibit categories of works or need the consent of a 3rd party. Some works call for local authority planning consent and approval in accordance building regulations. Certain areas are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which often prevent or impact extensions. It would be wise to check these things with a surveyor ahead of any purchase.
We are selling our home in Knightsbridge and according to the buyers it appears that there is a possibility that the property was constructed land that was not decontaminated. Any local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the purchasers used a web based conveyancing practice rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Knightsbridge. Having lived in Knightsbridge for many years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to contact our local Authority to get confirmation need.
It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer currently acting for you. What do they say? You need to check with your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same ailment)
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up during conveyancing in Knightsbridge?
Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Knightsbridge. 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…’
For various reasons I cannot visit my Knightsbridge conveyancing solicitors office to execute documents for conveyancing in Knightsbridge – is this a problem?
You need not be concerned. Knightsbridge conveyancing lawyers can conduct home moves for clients from a distance. It is not necessary for you to be able to attend a Knightsbridge conveyancers office. Almost all lawyer can handle all communications remotely from their Knightsbridge office.