In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Oxted? Why is this being asked of me?

You are right in the requirement set out by your lawyer has nothing to do with conveyancing in Oxted. Nowadays you will not be able to complete any conveyancing process in the absence supplying evidence of your identity. This usually takes the form of a either your passport or driving licence as well as a bank statement. Remember if you are supplying your driving licence as evidence of identification it must be both the paper element as well as the photo card part, one is not satisfactory in the absence of the other.

Proof of the source of monies is required in accordance with the Money Laundering Regulations. Don’t be offended when you are asked to produce this as your conveyancing solicitor must retain this information on file. Your Oxted conveyancing practitioner will require evidence of proof of funds before they are able to accept any money from you into their client account and they will also ask additional questions regarding the source of monies.

I am buying a terrace house in Oxted. We would like to carry out an extension to the side at the property.Will legal conveyancing on the property involve investigations to determine if these works were previously refused?

Your property lawyer will review the deeds as conveyancing in Oxted can occasionally reveal restrictions in the title documents which restrict certain works or need the permission of another owner. Some extensions need local authority planning permissions and approval in accordance building regulations. Certain locations are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which frequently prevent or affect extensions. It would be prudent to check these things with a surveyor ahead of any purchase.

I recently had an offer agreed on a house in Oxted. My financial adviser suggested a conveyancing practitioner. I paid an upfront payment of £175. Soon after, the property lawyer called me embarrassingly acknowledging that they were not on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?

You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the Yorkshire BS panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.

I've read lots of mortgage guides, I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Oxted solicitor - who is on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. is that correct?

Coventry BS will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually Coventry BS will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your conveyancing practitioner will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Oxted postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with Coventry BS, you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Oxted.

I require quick conveyancing in Oxted as I am faced with pressure to complete inside one month. Luckily I do not need a mortgage. Is it possible to escape the need for conveyancing searches to save money and time?

If.Given you are are a mortgage free purchaser you are at liberty not to have searches conducted although no conveyancer would suggest that you don't. Drawing on our experience of conveyancing in Oxted the following are instances of issues that can show up and adversely affect the marketability of the property: Enforcement Notices, Outstanding Charges, Outstanding Grants, Unadopted Roads,...

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to meet my requirements, at a great price which is making it more attractive. I have since found out that the title is leasehold rather than freehold. I would have thought that there are issues purchasing a leasehold house in Oxted. Conveyancing advisers have not yet been instructed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Oxted ?

The majority of houses in Oxted are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local solicitor used to dealing with such properties who can help the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are buying in Oxted in which case you should be looking for a Oxted conveyancing solicitor and check that they are used to advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. Being a lessee you will not be entirely free to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example requiring the landlord’sconsent to carry out alterations. It may be necessary to pay a service charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is located on an estate. Your solicitor will advise you fully on all the issues.

Oxted Leasehold Conveyancing - Examples of Queries before Purchasing

How much is the service charge and ground rent on the property? Is there a share of the freehold? Does the lease contain onerous restrictions?

What are the compelling benefits to selecting a high street lawyer in Oxted

Plenty of house movers in Oxted choose a local property lawyer so that they can pop into the lawyer’s offices if they have questions, and to sign mortgage deeds without using the Royal Mail.

There is a distinct advantage in using a conveyancer nearby to the property you are hoping to purchase, due to the knowledge of the area and possible local concerns - yet this is moot. The majority of conveyancers are now over the internet and could be almost anywhere.