What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Wimborne Minster? Is this really warranted?

Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering laws require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to check the ID of the person or body they are dealing with prior to agreeing to accepting their conveyancing business. The Client Care letter that you are required to sign will no doubt stipulate this. Your lender will also require certain documents to be viewed. If you are unwilling to hand over ID verification documents, your solicitor would not be able to act for you.

We're in Wimborne Minster, First time buyers buying with a mortgage (lender is Clydesdale , and our lawyer is on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no lawyer 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.

What is your number one tip for choosing a conveyancing solicitor in Wimborne Minster

Do not opt for the cheapest Wimborne Minster conveyancing fees. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to conveyancing solicitors. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you know exactly what you’ll have to pay in ahead of time.

Is it the case that all Wimborne Minster CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the Barclays conveyancing list of approved solicitors?

Some major banks and building societies now make use of the accreditation scheme as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for solicitors wishing to remain on their approved list of firms.

We previously appointed conveyancing lawyers with offices in Wimborne Minster on the Nationwide solicitor approved list. They have just invoiced me a separate fee for handling the Nationwide mortgage. Is this an additional conveyancing fee specified by Nationwide?

Provided it is contained in their Terms of Engagement or estimate then yes your solicitor is entitled to charge a fee for this. This fee is not dictated by Nationwide but by your Wimborne Minster solicitor. Numerous firms on the Nationwide panel will quote ’dealing with mortgage’ fee and others do not.

It has been 2 months since my purchase conveyancing in Wimborne Minster concluded. I have checked the Land Registry website which shows that I paid £150,000 when infact I paid £215,000. Why the discrepancy?

The price paid figure is taken from the application to register the purchase. It is the figure included in the Transfer (the legal deed which transfers the residence from one person to the other) and referred to as the 'consideration' or purchase price. You can report an error in the price paid figure using the LR online form. In most cases errors result from typos so at first glance the figure. Do report it so they can double check and advise.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to appointing a Wimborne Minster conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?

When appointing a conveyancer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Wimborne Minster conveyancing practice) it is essential that they be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We advise that you talk with several firms including non Wimborne Minster conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions could be helpful:

How many lease extensions have they conducted in Wimborne Minster in the last 12 months? If they are not ALEP accredited then what is the reason?

Leasehold Conveyancing in Wimborne Minster - Sample of Queries Prior to buying

The majority of Wimborne Minster leasehold flats will incur a service bill for the upkeep of the building levied on behalf of the management company. Should you purchase the apartment you will have to pay this charge, usually periodically accross the year. This may differ from a couple of hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large communal areas. In all probability there will be a ground rent to be met yearly, this is usually not a exorbitant figure, say around £25-£75 but you need to enquire as on occasion it can be surprisingly expensive. Is there a share of the freehold? Who is in charge of the building?