I am in need of a property lawyer. Should I go for for an internet conveyancer rather than a local Totland conveyancing lawyer?
Totland is a unique place, where neighbourhood knowledge is a significant benefit. The laid-back lifestyle is great – but not when it comes to your house move. The solicitors that we work with possess wide Totland intelligence with a proactive, can doapproach that helps everything runs smoothly. It is a definite plus where they can make use of established rapport with mortgage brokers, estate agents, valuers and counterpart Totland conveyancing solicitors
The Totland conveyancing lawyers that just started acting on my purchase in Totland have without warning shut down. I only went with them because I needed a solicitor on the HSBC conveyancing panel and my previous Totland lawyer was not. I gave my credit card details for them to take £195 for searches. What should be my next steps?
Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then inform them straight away so that they can let the sellers know that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Hopefully they will be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You should appoint new lawyers that are on the HSBC conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors may be able to assist.
My partner and I are downsizing from our home in Totland and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being constructed on contaminated land. Any local lawyer would know this is not the case. It does beg the question why the buyers instructed a national conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Totland. We have lived in Totland for 5 years we know that this is a non issue. Is it a good idea to contact our local Authority to seek confirmation need.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing lawyer currently acting for you. What do they say? You must 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 illness)
How does conveyancing in Totland differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build property in Totland come to us having been asked by the housebuilder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is completed. This is because new home sellers in Totland tend to purchase 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 conveyancers 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 Totland or who has acted in the same development.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a property I have offered on two weeks back in what should have been a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Totland is where the house is located. What do you suggest?
Flying freeholds in Totland are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Totland you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Totland may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.