My bank has suggested a law firm on their panel based in Chichester but I would rather choose a conveyancing lawyer in Chichester local to me. Can you help?

Not all Chichester conveyancing firms are listed all banks conveyancing panel. Please make use of our search tool to choose a Chichester conveyancing solicitor on the on the mortgage company panel.

My lawyer has informed me that missing deeds insurance is needed on my purchase. What is the typical level of cover needed for conveyancing in Chichester?

The appropriate level of missing deeds indemnity insurance depends on your lender. It would differ for example between Lloyds TSB Bank and Virgin Money. Conveyancing practitioners as opposed to members of the public take out such insurances.

Are all Chichester Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Barclays conveyancing panel?

Some major banks and building societies now use the accreditation scheme as the kick off 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.

I'm spending time looking at flats in Chichester and I am now considering a potential offer. Is it too early to have a solicitor in place? I intend to finance via a mortgage with UBS.

You should start requesting conveyancing quotes from solicitors ASAP. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and forward their details on to the EA. Given that you are taking out a mortgage with UBS, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the UBS conveyancing panel.

Will our solicitor be raising questions about flooding as part of the conveyancing in Chichester.

Flooding is a growing risk for lawyers carrying out conveyancing in Chichester. Plenty of people will acquire a property in Chichester, completely expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical destruction, if a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, suitable building insurance, or dispose of the premises. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the buyer.

Conveyancers are not best placed to impart advice on flood risk, but there are a number of searches that may be initiated by the buyer or by their solicitors which should give them a better appreciation of the risks in Chichester. The conventional set of completed inquiry forms sent to a buyer’s conveyancer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) incorporates a usual inquiry of the seller to discover if the property has ever been flooded. If the residence has been flooded in past which is not notified by the owner, then a purchaser could bring a compensation claim as a result of such an misleading answer. The buyer’s lawyers will also conduct an enviro search. This will higlight if there is any known flood risk. If so, more detailed inquiries will need to be conducted.

I purchased a 4 bedroom Victorian property in Chichester. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and Britannia. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same property. I'd like to know for sure, how can I find out??

You should review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Chichester and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with lenders. You can also question the situation with the conveyancing practitioner who conducted the purchase.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a house I put an offer in last month in what was supposed to be a simple, no chain conveyancing. Chichester is where the house is located. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Chichester are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Chichester you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds very carefully. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Chichester may ascertain 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 premises.