In what way does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Seaford? What am I being asked for?

Seaford conveyancing solicitors as well as nationwide property practitioners throughout the UK have a duty under Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules to verify the ID of any client in order to ensure that clients are who they say they are.

Conveyancing clients are required to provide two forms of certified ID; proof of ID (usually a Passport or Driving Licence) and evidence of address (typically a Utility Bill less than 3 months old).

Evidence of the origin of funds is also required under the money laundering statutes as conveyancers are obliged to check that the monies you are using to purchase a property (whether it be the deposit for exchange or the total purchase monies if you are a cash purchaser) has originated from an acceptable source (such as employment savings) and is not the product of criminal activity.

My wife and I have recently appointed a conveyancing solicitor in Seaford. I I am struggling to find out if they are accepted on the Alliance & Leicester approved list of lawyers. Can you help?

You should contact the lawyer and ask them if they can act for the lender. Alternatively you can call Alliance & Leicester who may be able to confirm.

I require quick conveyancing in Seaford as I am faced with a deadline to exchange contracts inside 3 weeks. Fortunately I do not require a mortgage. Can I decline from having conveyancing searches to save fees and time?

If.Given you are not obtaining a home loan you are at liberty not to have searches conducted although no conveyancer would advise that you don't. With lots of history conveyancing in Seaford the following are examples of what can crop up and therefore affect market value: Refused Planning Applications, Overdue Fees, Outstanding Grants, Railway Schemes,...

Me and my brother own a semi-detached Edwardian property in Seaford. Conveyancing practitioner represented me and Santander. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw two entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold under the matching address. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You need to review 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 owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Seaford and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also check the position with your conveyancing solicitor who conducted the conveyancing.

Me and my fiance are soon to exchange buying a house in Seaford but as a consequence of wreckage from the recent storms I have negotiated compensation from the current proprietors of £2k by way of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process however the bank will not permit this. Why were they approached?

Your solicitor that is on a mortgage company approved list is duty bound to disclose to the bank of any changes to the purchase amount. In the event that you were to refuse your solicitor to notify the reduction to your bank then they would have no choice but to disinstructing themselves from acting for you and the bank.