I used Arc property Solicitors several years past for my conveyancing in Barnet. I now require my papers but the law firm has closed. What do I do?
Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Barnet of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.
Due to the advice of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a property in Barnet prior to instructing conveyancers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold element to the property. Our surveyor advised that some mortgage companies will refuse to give a mortgage on a flying freehold house.
It varies from the lender to lender. Bank of Scotland has different requirements for example to Halifax. Should you wish to telephone us we can look into this further with the relevant lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Barnet. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.
Is it best to use a Barnet conveyancing lawyer in close proximity to the house I am buying? I have an old university friend who can perform the legal formalities however his firm is located 300miles drive away.
The primary upside of using a local Barnet conveyancing practice is that you can pop in to execute documents, present your ID and pester them where appropriate. They will also have local insight which is a bonus. However nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust instructed your friend and they were impressed that should outweigh using an unknown Barnet conveyancing lawyer solely due to them being Barnet based.
What advice can you give us when it comes to appointing a Barnet conveyancing practice to deal with our lease extension?
If you are instructing a solicitor for lease extension works (regardless if they are a Barnet conveyancing firm) it is imperative that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggest that you talk with several firms including non Barnet conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. Where the conveyancing practice is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions could be useful:
-
What volume of lease extensions have they conducted in Barnet in the last twenty four months?
I have had difficulty in trying to purchase the freehold in Barnet. Can this matter be resolved via the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal?
if there is a missing freeholder or where there is dispute about the premium for a lease extension, under the relevant legislation you can apply to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to calculate the price payable.
An example of a Lease Extension matter before the tribunal for a Barnet residence is Flat 2 2 Netherfield Road in April 2010. The Tribunale held that premium payable for a 90 year extension to the existing Lease should be £7,705. This case was in relation to 1 flat. The remaining number of years on the lease was 76 years.
I was told by my mortgage company that their approved conveyancers work on no completion no charge basis for conveyancing in Barnet. Our purchase aborted nevertheless the solicitors have requested search fees! They are claiming that the fees are nothing to do with their fees!
By offering "no sale no fee" Barnet conveyancing practices are writing off their charges for any work done. We must stress this does not constitute an insurance scheme. Disbursements aren’t covered – where the conveyancing practitioner have to pay money out to other people, e.g. Barnet local search fees