It is is a decade since I acquired my property in Heathrow. Conveyancing lawyers have recently been instructed on the sale but I can't track down my deeds. Is this a problem?
Don’t worry too much. Firstly the deeds may be with the lender or they may be in the possession of the solicitor who handled the purchase. Secondly in most cases the land will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to prove you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors acquiring up to date copy of the land registers. Most conveyancing in Heathrow involves registered property but in the unlikely event that your home is unregistered it adds to the complexity but is not insurmountable.
I just bought a flat at auction in Heathrow. Conveyancing is necessary. What happens now?
Having for in every practical sense signed on the dotted line you must retain a conveyancing solicitor quickly as you are facing a pending a fixed date to complete the conveyancing. Every auction property will ordinarily have an associated legal set of papers. This will include evidence of title and search results. In the case of leasehold premises the legal papers may provide a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing documentation pertinent to a leasehold property. You must hand this to your appointed conveyancing solicitor at the earliest opportunity. You also need to ensure that that you have the requisite funding in place to complete the transaction on the set completion date.
Can you help - my lawyer advises that chancel insurance is necessary on my purchase. What is the typical level of cover needed for conveyancing in Heathrow?
The appropriate level of chancel indemnity insurance should be dictated by who your lender. It would differ for example between Yorkshire Building Society and Chelsea Building Society. Conveyancing lawyers as opposed to borrowers take out such policies.
Does a directory service exist listing Yorkshire BS panel conveyancers in Heathrow on the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Website?
Unfortunately not yet. There is no such tool on the Council of Mortgage Lenders or Building Society Association sites. A small selection of lenders make their panel listings viewable online. If you are looking for a Heathrow property lawyer on the Yorkshire BS please use our tool.
Me and my brother have a semi-detached Georgian house in Heathrow. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Barnsley Building Society. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the exact same property. Is it worth asking Barnsley Building Society to clarify?
You need to assess 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 Heathrow and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they buy they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also question the position with your conveyancing lawyer who carried out the work.
I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in two weeks back in what should have been a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Heathrow is where the house is located. Can you offer any opinion?
Flying freeholds in Heathrow are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Heathrow you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Heathrow 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 residence.
I'm refinancing my primary house to a BTL mortgage with Birmingham Midshires and intend to use the remaining equity as a down payment on another property. The location we are interested in is Heathrow. Will your lawyers be able to act for the two banks and link together the conveyances?
Do use our comparison tool on this page to be sure that the lawyers are approved by both lenders. On the basis that they are the solicitor should be able to tie up the two deals but you should have a chat with you lawyer and specify your expectations and needs.