Will lawyers request money on account when it comes to conveyancing in Borehamwood and Elstree?

If you are buying a property in Borehamwood and Elstree your solicitor will ask you place them with monies to cover the search fees. Generally this is asked for to cover the fees of the Local Authority Search. If any deposit is payable against the purchase price then this should be asked for shortly ahead of exchange of contracts. The final balance that is needed should be transferred a couple of days ahead of the completion date.

Can I be sure that the Borehamwood and Elstree conveyancing solicitor on the Co-operative panel is any good?

When it comes to conveyancing in Borehamwood and Elstree getting recommendations is a sensible starting point. Before you go ahead, check if they offer a no sale no fee offer. Also, you often get what you pay for - a firm which quotes more, will often provide a better service than one advertising the lowest fees. We would always advise that you speak with the solicitor handling your transaction.

I have paid off my mortgage with Kent Reliance. I assume I don't need a Borehamwood and Elstree solicitor on the Kent Reliance panel to remove the mortgage at the Land Registry. Am I right?

If you have finished paying off your Kent Reliance mortgage, they may send you evidence showing that you have paid it off. Alternatively they may notify the Land Registry directly. The Land Registry need to see this evidence before they will remove the Kent Reliance mortgage from the register. Kent Reliance, and any evidence they send you, will determine the action you need to take. In cases where no conveyancer is acting for you and you have paid off your mortgage:

1. but are not moving to another property
2. where Kent Reliance has sent the Land Registry the discharge electronically, and
3. Kent Reliance has instructed the Land Registry to do so

Having digested plenty of mortgage guides, I note that it is considered advisable to get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Borehamwood and Elstree solicitor - who is on the RBS conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?

RBS will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually RBS 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. You may wish to consider appointing your own Borehamwood and Elstree surveyor to carry out a survey or prepare a home buyers report on the property. It is up to you to satisfy yourself that the property is structurally sound before you buy it. If the survey or report reveals that building work is needed, you should tell your solicitor. You may wish to renegotiate with the seller.

I have been told that property searches are the primary cause of obstruction in Borehamwood and Elstree house deals. Is this right?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) released determinations of research by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not feature amongst the top 10 causes of delays during the legal transfer of property. Searches are unlikely to be the root cause of holding up conveyancing in Borehamwood and Elstree.

I decided to have a survey completed on a house in Borehamwood and Elstree before appointing lawyers. I have been told that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. Our surveyor advised that some lenders will not issue a mortgage on this type of house.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Bank of Scotland has different instructions from Nationwide. If you call us we can investigate further via the appropriate bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are used to dealing with flying freeholds in Borehamwood and Elstree. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Borehamwood and Elstree especially if they are acquainted with such properties in Borehamwood and Elstree.

Can you offer any advice when it comes to appointing a Borehamwood and Elstree conveyancing practice to carry out our lease extension conveyancing?

If you are instructing a property lawyer for your lease extension (regardless if they are a Borehamwood and Elstree conveyancing firm) it is most important that he or she should be familiar with the legislation and specialises in this area of conveyancing. We suggest that you make enquires with two or three firms including non Borehamwood and Elstree conveyancing practices prior to instructing a firm. If the firm is ALEP accredited then that’s a bonus. The following questions might be helpful:

If the firm is not ALEP accredited then why not?

Leasehold Conveyancing in Borehamwood and Elstree - A selection of Queries before Purchasing

What restrictions are there in the Borehamwood and Elstree Lease? Can you inform me if there are any major works on the horizon that will likely increase the maintenance charges?