I have given 2 months notice to my existing landlord and must vacate my rented apartment in Hook Norton by 12/3/2025. Conveyancing for my house purchase is progressing. How realistic is it to complete in three weeks as I wish to avoid having to find short term accommodation?
The normal practice is not to serve notice on a rental unless you have exchanged. Assuming that you have not already done so, notify to your lawyer and ask them to they cajole the sellers solicitors, try to get a realistic time scale from them that all parties will look to achieve
The Hook Norton conveyancing firm that just started acting on my purchase in Hook Norton have suddenly closed. I chose them because I needed a lawyer on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel and my previous Hook Norton lawyer was not. I sent them a cheque for two hundred pounds in advance. What are my options?
Assuming that you have an Estate Agent in the equation then let them know immediately so that they advise the vendors that there may be a slight delay due to reasons beyond your control. Hopefully they will be sympathetic and urge their lawyer to send a new set of papers to your new solicitors. You will need to appoint new lawyers that are on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel and notify the lender. If you have paid over any money, it will hopefully be held by the SRA as money in an intervened firm's bank accounts is transferred to the SRA. Then, the SRA or the intervention agent looks at the intervened firm's accounts to work out who the money belongs to. To claim your money you will need to contact the SRA. If the SRA cannot return money you are owed from the firm's bank accounts, or if they can only return part of the money, you can apply to the Compensation Fund for a grant. Your new solicitors should be in a position to assist.
Me and my brother own a semi-detached Edwardian property in Hook Norton. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Barnsley Building Society. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are a couple of entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
You should read 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 Hook Norton 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 enquire as to the position with your conveyancing lawyer who carried out the work.
How does conveyancing in Hook Norton differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Hook Norton come to us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is completed. This is because builders in Hook Norton usually buy 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 conveyancers 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 Hook Norton or who has acted in the same development.
Do online conveyancing companies undertake everything a high street Hook Norton solicitor does or do I still need to retain a solicitor for the final stages for my conveyancing in Hook Norton?
If you choose an online conveyancer they will undertake all the things your Hook Norton solicitor will cover.