We wanted to use a conveyancing solicitor in Drybrook for our house move. Our broker has since advised us that our bank TSB won't deal with them. Surely this is unduly restrictive?
Banks on the whole imposes restrictions either the category or the number of conveyancing practices on their approved list of lawyers. Typical examples of such restriction(s) being that a law practice must not be a sole practitioner. In addition to restricting the profile of firm, a few lenders have decided to limit the number of firms they permit to act for them. You should note that TSB have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any member of TSB Conveyancer Panel. Mortgage fraud was a primary driver in the rationalisation of solicitor panels since 2008 even though there remains differing opinions about the extent of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Statistics from the Land Registry indicate that thousands of law firms, including some in or near Drybrook only carry out very few conveyances a year.
I am downsizing from our house in Drybrook and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a possibility that the property was constructed on contaminated land. A high street Drybrook lawyer would know that there is no such problem. For the life of me I don't know why the buyers used an online conveyancing practice rather than a conveyancing solicitor in Drybrook. Having lived in Drybrook for 4 years we know of no issue. Do we contact our local Authority to obtain confirmation that the buyers are looking for.
It would appear that you have a conveyancing solicitor currently acting for you. What do they say? You must enquire of 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)
How does conveyancing in Drybrook differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build premises in Drybrook come to us having been asked by the developer to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is ready to move into. This is because developers in Drybrook typically purchase the land, 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 property lawyers 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 accustomed to new build conveyancing in Drybrook or who has acted in the same development.
Should I be wary that third parties that I am dealing with are recommending a factory type conveyancing firm rather than a High Street Drybrook conveyancing company?
As with lots of service providers, often input from family and friends can be most helpful. Nevertheless there are many players in a conveyancing deal; estate agents, financial adviser and mortgage companies may recommend lawyers to select. On occasion the conveyancers might be known to one of the organisations as experts in their field, but occasionally there behind the scenes commercial relationship behind the recommendation. You are at liberty to select your own conveyancer. Don't forget that many mortgage providers operate an approved list of law firms you must use for the mortgage related work in your house move.
We are about to acquiring a home in Drybrook. Conveyancing is not complete but we would like have the amount we are are buying for private from sites such as Zoopla. How could this be done?
HMLR by statute are bound to disclose price paid data on a register of the title for residential properties countrywide including homes in Drybrook. The register of ownership is an open document, so HMLR would be breaking the law excluded specific properties such as your property in Drybrook.
In essence you can make a request of HMLR to withhold the amount paid entry however the response will be in the negative.