In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Leyland? Is this really necessary?

To satisfy the Money Laundering Regulations any Leyland conveyancing firm will require evidence of your identity in all conveyancing matters. 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 required to investigate not simply the ID of conveyancing clients but also the origin of fund that they receive in respect of any matter. An unwillingness to disclose this may result in your solicitor cancelling their relationship with you, as clearly this will cause a conflict between the set Regulations and a refusal to disclose.

Your property lawyers will have an obligation to make a disclosure to the relevant authorities should they believe that any amounts received by them may contravene the Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules.

How does conveyancing in Leyland differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Leyland approach us having been asked by the seller to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is constructed. This is because builders in Leyland usually acquire the site, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are accustomed to new build conveyancing in Leyland or who has acted in the same development.

I have been sourcing a conveyancing practitioner in Leyland for my home move. Can I check a solicitor's record with the legal regulator?

One can read presented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations arising from investigations started on or after 1 January 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. For details about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a firm's record, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. International callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA could recorded telephone calls for training purposes.

Can you provide any top tips for leasehold conveyancing in Leyland from the point of view of speeding up the sale process?

• Much of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Leyland can be avoided where you get in touch lawyers as soon as you market your property and request that they start to put together the leasehold information needed by the purchasers’ representatives.
If there is a history of any disputes with your landlord or managing agents it is very important that these are settled prior to the flat being put on the market. The purchasers and their solicitors will be reluctant to purchase a property where there is a current dispute. You may have to bite the bullet and discharge any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal particulars of the dispute to the purchasers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as over as opposed to ongoing. If you have the benefit of shareholding in the freehold, you should make sure that you are holding the original share document. Obtaining a replacement share certificate is often a time consuming formality and slows down many a Leyland conveyancing deal. If a reissued share certificate is required, you should approach the company director and secretary or managing agents (where applicable) for this as soon as possible. A minority of Leyland leases require Landlord’s consent to the sale and approval of the buyers. If this applies to your lease, you should place the estate agents on notice to make sure that the purchasers obtain financial (bank) and professional references. The bank reference should make it clear that the buyer is able to meet the annual service charge and the actual amount of the service charge should be quoted in the bank’s letter. You will therefore need to provide your estate agents with the actual amount of the service charge so that they can pass this information on to the buyers or their lawyers. You may think that you are aware of the number of years left on your lease but it would be wise to double-check via your lawyers. A purchaser's lawyer will not be happy to advise their client to to exchange contracts if the remaining number of years is less than 75 years. It is therefore essential at an as soon as possible that you identify whether the lease term requires a lease extension. If it does, contact your solicitors before you put your premises on the market for sale.

Leyland Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Examples of Questions you should consider Prior to Purchasing

How long is the Lease? This information is helpful as a) areas could result in problems in the block as the communal areas may begin to deteriorate where services remain unpaid b) if the leaseholders have a dispute with the running of the building you will wish to know about it Plenty Leyland leasehold apartments will have a service bill for maintenance of the building levied on behalf of the freeholder. Where you acquire the flat you will have to meet this amount, normally periodically during the year. This can differ from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built buildings. There will also be a ground rent for you to pay annual, ordinarily this is not a exorbitant sum, say approximately £25-£75 but you should to check as occasionally it could be many hundreds of pounds.

My husband and I plan to purchase our first home in Leyland. Conveyancing solicitor has been instructed. The financial consultant advised that a survey is not necessary as the property is just 20 yrs old.

As the bare minimum you need a Home Buyer's Report. Given the property was built over a decade ago the property will be without a warranty, so you don't want to take a risk. For a property that age with no signs of problems a Home Buyer's report may suffice. The report should highlight any obvious issues and suggest additional investigation where appropriate. Where there are any signs of material issues get a full Building Survey from the beginning.