The Mersea Island conveyancing firm handling our Mersea Island conveyancing has discovered an inconsistency between the surveyor’s assumptions in the valuation survey and what is in the legal papers for the property. My solicitor says that he is duty bound to check that the lender is OK with this discrepancy and is still content to lend. Is my conveyancer’s approach appropriate?
Your property lawyer must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook conditions which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for both parties.
A friend advised me that if I am buying in Mersea Island I should carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?
This is a search is usually quoted for as part of the standard Mersea Island conveyancing searches. It is not a small document of about 40 pages, listing and setting out significant information about Mersea Island around the property and the people living there. It includes an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Mersea Island Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the demographics of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average Property Price, Crime statistics, Local Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data about Mersea Island.
I purchased a semi-detached Victorian property in Mersea Island. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and National Westminster Bank. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold under the matching address. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
You need to read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be 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 Mersea Island and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also enquire as to the situation with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.
How does conveyancing in Mersea Island differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Mersea Island come to us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is built. This is because developers in Mersea Island usually acquire the real estate, 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 property lawyers 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 used to new build conveyancing in Mersea Island or who has acted in the same development.
Is it best to instruct a Mersea Island conveyancing practitioner in close proximity to the house I am buying? An old friend can execute the legal work however her office is 200kilometers drive away.
The benefit of a high street Mersea Island conveyancing practice is that you can visit the firm to sign paperwork, present your identification documents and apply pressure on them if necessary. They will also have local knowledge which is a plus. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who used your friend and the majority were impressed that must trump using an unfamiliar Mersea Island conveyancing solicitor just because they are Mersea Island based.