After looking at moneysavingexpert.com for a conveyancing solicitor in West London, most comment that I should look for a CQS kitemarked solicitor. What is CQS?
The Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) provides a kitemark for residential conveyancing practices issued by the Law Society. Membership achievement establishes a level of credibility for member firms with stakeholders (regulators, lenders, insurers and consumers) based upon: * the integrity of the senior responsible officer and other key conveyancing staff * the firm's adherence to good practice management standards * adherence to best practice conveyancing processes through the scheme protocol Membership includes many companies who handle conveyancing in West London.
I am purchasing a house and the lawyer has identified Chancel Repair for which the house may be liable given it’s proximity to the area of such a church. He has suggested insurance. Is this really appropriate for conveyancing in West London
Unless a prior acquisition of the property took place after 12 October 2013 you can expect conveyancing practitioners carrying out conveyancing in West London to remain recommending a chancel search and or chancel repair liability policy.
Me and my brother own a 4 bedroom Victorian house in West London. Conveyancing practitioner acted for me and Lloyds TSB Bank. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and there are two entries: one for freehold, the second leasehold under the matching property. I thought I was buying a freehold how can I check?
You need to assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for 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 West London 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 situation with your conveyancing practitioner who conducted the work.
How does conveyancing in West London differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in West London contact us having been asked by the seller to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is completed. This is because developers in West London tend to purchase the real estate, 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 used to new build conveyancing in West London or who has acted in the same development.
My husband and I are new to the buying process - agreed a price, but the selling agent informed us that the seller will only issue a contract if we appoint the agent's preferred conveyancers as they are insisting on a ‘quick sale’. We would rather use a high street solicitor with experience of conveyancing in West London
We suspect that the seller is unaware of this demand. Should the owner require ‘a quick sale', alienating a serious buyer is is going to put the whole deal at risk. Bypass the agents and go straight to the owners and make the point that (a)you are keen to buy (b)you are ready to go, with finances in place © you are chain free (d) you wish to move quickly (e)however you are going to use your preferred West London conveyancing firm - not the ones that will earn the estate agent a referral fee or meet his conveyancing thresholds demanded by HQ.