I am buying a leasehold flat in Poundbury. My property lawyer is not on the bank conveyancing list. Am I still permitted to retain my Poundbury conveyancing solicitor even though they are not on the lender panel?
One must have a to complete the formalities if you need a mortgage to purchase your property. They will conduct all the appropriate legal checks on the property, ensuring that you will be properly registered as the owner and ensure that all the required mortgage paperwork is in order. You may instruct a Poundbury of your choice. Nevertheless, where the appointed is not on the lender approved list supplemental charges will be incurred as separate legal representation will be need by the bank. Lender panel applications may be submitted, so where your lawyer has not historically sought membership they should take the opportunity to apply.
Finally the sale completed on my house in Poundbury last February yet the purchaser is SMS messaging me complaining that her lawyer is waiting to hear from mine. What are the post completion sale formalities following completion?
Post completion of your disposal your conveyancer should forward the transfer deeds and all supplemental paperwork to the purchaser's conveyancer. Where relevant, your solicitor must also send confirmation that the legal charge in favour of the lender has been discharged to the buyers conveyancers. There are no post completion procedures peculiar conveyancing in Poundbury.
Can you clarify what the consequences are if my lawyer’s firm is removed from the Conveyancing panel ahead of completing my conveyancing in Poundbury?
The first thing to point out is that, this is a very rare occurrence. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have to instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by a regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit at a cost.
How does conveyancing in Poundbury differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Poundbury contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is finished. This is because house builders in Poundbury 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 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Poundbury or who has acted in the same development.
I need to instruct a conveyancing practitioner in Poundbury for my remortgage. Can I see a firm’s record with the profession’s regulator?
Members of the public may read documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations arising from inquisitions started on or after Jan 2008. Go to Check a solicitor's record. To find records Pre 2008, or to check a firm's history, call 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and 09.30 - 18.00 Tuesday. For non-uk callers, use +44 (0)121 329 6800. The regulator sometimes recorded telephone calls for training requirements.