When reviewing online forums for an online solicitor in Bow Street, many advise that I must use a CQS accredited lawyer. Can you explain what CQS is?
The Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme is the recognised kitemark for legal experts in home ownership transfers, trusted by some of the UK's major lenders. In 2011-12 the Conveyancing Quality Scheme was officially recognised by the Legal Ombudsman. The scheme does not cover licenced conveyancers. Bow Street is one of the many areas in England and Wales where there are Accredited solicitors.
There are plenty of conveyancing solicitors in Bow Street but how do I know who's good?
It would be unwise to be seduced by the lowest Bow Street conveyancing fees. You really do get what you’re paying 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 the deal.
How can we know in advance if a Bow Street conveyancing solicitor on the TSB panel is any good?
When it comes to conveyancing in Bow Street obtaining recommendations is a sensible start. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one which is cheap as chips. We would always advise that you speak with the lawyer conducting your conveyancing.
I'm spending time looking at flats in Bow Street and I am now considering a potential offer. Is it premature to have a solicitor in place? I am planning to take a home loan with Aldermore.
It would be prudent to start your search sooner rather than later. After you have chosen your lawyer and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and forward their contact information on to the estate agent. As you are taking out a mortgage with Aldermore, ask your prospective lawyers if they are on the Aldermore conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up during conveyancing in Bow Street?
Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Bow Street. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’
How does conveyancing in Bow Street differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Bow Street come to us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is ready to move into. This is because house builders in Bow Street typically buy 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 conveyancing solicitors 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 Bow Street or who has acted in the same development.
I have been recommended by a number of property agents in Bow Street to find a solicitor using your seach tool. Is there a financial upside for Estate Agents to promote your site over and above a competitor’s?
We don’t offer any referral fee for pointing buyers and sellers to this site. We thought it would be too underhand to pay a commission because members of the public would think, ‘How come the agent getting a kickback? Why aren’t I receiving any benefit too?’ So we decided to step away from that.