We're in Westerham, First timers purchasing with a mortgage (lender is Leeds Building Society , and our solicitor is on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no solicitor should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.

Have just purchased a probate house at auction in Westerham. Conveyancing is required. What is next?

Now that you are exchanged you must appoint a conveyancing solicitor as a matter of urgency as you are faced with a tight deadline in which to complete the property. An auction property should have an associated auction set of papers. This will likely include most,if not all of the paperwork that your solicitor requires. In the case of leasehold premises the legal papers may provide a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and associated conveyancing paperwork specific to leasehold premises. You should hand this to the conveyancer working for you as soon as possible. Do make sure that that you have the requisite funding in order to complete the transaction on the set completion date.

Forgive me if this question is silly but I am new to the home moving as a first time purchaser of a two bedroom flat in Westerham. Do I receive the keys to the property on completion from my lawyer? If this is the case, I will use a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Westerham?

There is no need to visit the lawyers office on the day of completion. Your solicitors will electronically transfer the purchase money to the owner’s lawyers, and once they have received this, you will be able to pick up the keys from the Estate Agents and move into your new home. Usually this happens between 1 and 3pm.

It is unclear whether my bank requires a lease extension. I have called my Westerham building society branch on numerous occasions and was told it does not impact the mortgage offer and they would lend. My Westerham conveyancing solicitor - who is on the mortgage company conveyancing panel- called and was told they refuse to lend in accordance with their published requirements. I have no idea who is right.

As long as the property lawyer is on the mortgage company approved list, they must comply with the CML Handbook provisions for the lender. Unless your lawyer obtains specific confirmation in writing that the lender will go ahead, your lawyer has no choice but to refrain from exchanging contract and committing you to the purchase. We would suggest that you ask the lender to contact your lawyer in writing confirming that they will accept the number of years remaining.

I have todaybeen informed that Arc property Solicitors have been shut down. They conducted my conveyancing in Westerham for a purchase of a leasehold apartment 18 months ago. How can I be sure that my home is registered correctly in the name of the former proprietor?

The easiest way to see if the property is in your name, you can carry out a search of the land registry (£3.00). You can either do this yourself or ask a law firm to do this for you. If you are not registered you can seek help from one of a number of Westerham conveyancing specialists.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build apartment in Westerham. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.

Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Westerham

Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. The Vendor must covenant to keep unoccupied units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore.

Is it true that a Westerham conveyancing practice has court proceedings brought against them by clients for not carrying out comprehensive conveyancing searches?

We are not aware of such a Westerham conveyancing claim but according to a recent report, clients buying a house elsewhere in England successfully won a claim against their property lawyer as a consequence of development permission to erect a wind farm not being identified in conveyancing searches.

Where you are thinking of buying a home in Westerham It is critical that your conveyancing practitioner purchase all Westerham conveyancing searches required to ensure you have accurate and current information ahead of purchasing a home in Westerham.