The property market in Stone is hotting up. What can I do to speed up matters?

Where the seller is applying time constraints to sign contracts we would recommend that your conveyancer is familiar with the location as they will benefit local contacts and insight. It is even conceivable that they would have transacted previoushomes in the same street. You would be best advised to use a Stone conveyancing firm. Second, ensure that the lawyer is on the lender panel. It is believed that nearly one in five of Stone conveyancing transactions are delayed or derailed after discovering a buyer’s solicitor was not on their banks list of approved solicitors. This can often result in the conveyancing being held up by an average of 21 days. It is claimed that this issue impacts approximately one hundred thousand home moves every year. Almost all Stone conveyancing firms can not act for certain banks so do check at the outset.

Are the Stone conveyancing solicitors identified as being on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel, together with their details provided by Clydesdale?

Stone conveyancing firms themselves provide us confirmation that they are on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel as opposed to being supplied with a list from Clydesdale directly.

I am planning to acquire a property and require a conveyancing solicitor in Stone who is on the Barclays Direct conveyancing. Could you point me in the right direction as regards a firm?

Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Barclays Direct in certain locations such as Stone. We dont recommend any particular firm.

Should my solicitor be asking questions concerning flooding during the conveyancing in Stone.

Flooding is a growing risk for lawyers dealing with homes in Stone. Some people will acquire a property in Stone, completely expectant that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, aside from the physical destruction, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, suitable building insurance, or sell the property. Steps can be carried out as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.

Conveyancers are not best placed to impart advice on flood risk, but there are a number of searches that can be undertaken by the purchaser or on a buyer’s behalf which will give them a better appreciation of the risks in Stone. The standard information sent to a buyer’s solicitor (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) incorporates a usual question of the owner to determine whether the property has ever been flooded. In the event that flooding has previously occurred which is not disclosed by the vendor, then a purchaser could bring a claim for damages as a result of such an inaccurate reply. The purchaser’s solicitors will also conduct an enviro search. This will disclose whether there is any known flood risk. If so, additional inquiries should be made.

I purchased a terraced Edwardian property in Stone. Conveyancing lawyer represented me and Clydesdale. I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the matching address. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for 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 Stone and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also check the position with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the conveyancing.