It is is a decade since I bought my home in Houghton Le Spring. Conveyancing lawyers have recently been instructed on the sale but I am unable to locate the deeds. Will this cause complications?
Don’t worry too much. First the deeds may be kept by your mortgage company or they could still be with the conveyancers who oversaw the purchase. Secondly in most cases the property will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you are the registered owner by your conveyancing solicitors acquiring current official copies of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in Houghton Le Spring relates to registered property but in the rare situation where your home is not registered it adds to the complexity but is resolvable.
I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in Houghton Le Spring. I have a mortgage offer with Coventry BS. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?
It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Coventry BS, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel.
Completion of my purchase has taken place for my property in Houghton Le Spring. Conveyancing was a necessary evil but I would like to complain about the lender. Who do I contact should I wish to lodge a complaint?
All lenders have complaints procedures. Your first port of call should be one of the lender’s branches or the Customer Care Department at head office. Ordinarily complaints to a lender are sorted out effectively and efficiently. If you feel the matter is not resolved you can write to Financial Ombudsman Service who will take matters further.
I was told three weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed to by Leeds Building Society. Is it usual for Leeds Building Society to only issue the offer once my solicitor in Houghton Le Spring is approved on their conveyancing panel? Leeds Building Society have asked my solicitor to see a copy of their Professional Indemnity Insurance Schedule.
A lender would not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Leeds Building Society to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.
My wife and I are intent on selling our house in Houghton Le Spring and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being constructed land that was not decontaminated. A local lawyer would know that there is no such problem. It does beg the question why the purchasers are using an online conveyancing practice as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Houghton Le Spring. Having lived in Houghton Le Spring for 5 years we know that this is a non issue. Is it a good idea to contact our local Authority to seek confirmation that there is no issue.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing firm currently acting for you. Are they able to advise? You must check with 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 life insurance to cover that same ailment)
Due to the guidance of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Houghton Le Spring ahead of appointing solicitors. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold aspect to the house. My surveyor has said that some banks will not issue a loan on such a house.
It varies from the lender to lender. Santander has different requirements from Nationwide. Should you wish to call us we can investigate further with the relevant mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Houghton Le Spring. Conveyancing can be more complicated and therefore you should check with your conveyancing solicitor in Houghton Le Spring to see if the conveyancing will be more expensive.
Is it necessary during the course of the conveyancing process to visit the offices of the mortgage company conveyancing panel solicitor to execute the legal charge? If so, I will instruct a firm who offer conveyancing in Houghton Le Spring as it will be easier to pop in to their offices if necessary.
As opposed to 15 years ago, most lenders no longer require their conveyancing panel solicitor to witness the borrowers signature. You will still be obliged to provide ID Documents and there are still distinct advantages to using a local solicitor, in your case a conveyancing solicitor in Houghton Le Spring.