Willusing a Handsworth conveyancing firm make the ownership transfer easier?

Generally conveyancing practitioners in your location will have strong connections with your local authority, which could help with the Handsworth conveyancing searches that your lawyer will require on your transaction. It also helps if they enjoy strong rapport with the Local Land Registry Office your area Handsworth, other property lawyers in the area and Handsworth Estate Agents.

My partner and I are downsizing from our house in Handsworth and according to the buyers it appears that there is a risk of it being constructed on contaminated land. Any high street Handsworth lawyer would know this is not the case. For the life of me I don't know why the purchasers instructed a web based conveyancing firm as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Handsworth. Having lived in Handsworth for 5 years we know of no issue. Is it a good idea to contact our local Authority to seek confirmation that there is no issue.

It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer currently acting for you. Are they able to advise? You should enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same ailment)

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly identified as part of conveyancing in Handsworth?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the process of conveyancing in Handsworth. 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 Handsworth differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build residence in Handsworth approach us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the house is finished. This is because developers in Handsworth usually purchase the land, 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 Handsworth or who has acted in the same development.

Can you provide any advice for leasehold conveyancing in Handsworth from the point of view of saving time on the sale process?

• A significant proportion of the delay in leasehold conveyancing in Handsworth can be avoided if you appoint lawyers the minute your agents start advertising the property and request that they start to collate the leasehold information which will be required by the buyers’ conveyancers.
The majority of landlords or Management Companies in Handsworth levy fees for providing management packs for a leasehold premises. You or your lawyers should enquire as to the actual amount of the charges. The management information sought as soon as you have a buyer, thus reducing delays. The average time it takes to obtain the necessary information is three weeks. It is the most frequent cause of delay in leasehold conveyancing in Handsworth. If you have had any disputes with your freeholder or managing agents it is very important that these are settled prior to the flat being put on the market. The buyers and their solicitors will be nervous about purchasing a property where there is a current dispute. You will have to accept that you will have to pay any arrears of service charge or resolve the dispute prior to the buyers completing the purchase. It is therefore preferable to have any dispute settled prior to the contract papers being issued to the buyers’ solicitors. You will still have to reveal particulars of the dispute to the buyers, but it is better to reveal the dispute as historic rather than ongoing. If you are supposed to have a share in the freehold, you should ensure that you have the original share document. Organising a new share certificate can be a lengthy process and frustrates many a Handsworth conveyancing transaction. Where a duplicate share is necessary, you should approach the company officers or managing agents (where relevant) for this at the earliest opportunity.

Handsworth Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries Prior to Purchasing

How many years are left on the lease? Are there any major works in the near future that will likely add a premium to the service fees? What restrictions are there in the Handsworth Lease?