We're in Lingfield, FTBs purchasing with a mortgage (lender is Nottingham , and our lawyer is on the Nottingham conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the Nottingham conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no conveyancing practitioner should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.
My wife and I purchased a terraced Georgian property in Lingfield. Conveyancing lawyer represented me and Chelsea Building Society. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw two entries: the first freehold, another for leasehold under the matching property. 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 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 Lingfield and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also question the situation with your conveyancing solicitor who conducted the conveyancing.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a property I put an offer in two weeks back in what was supposed to be a quick, no chain conveyancing. Lingfield is where the house is located. What do you suggest?
Flying freeholds in Lingfield are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Lingfield you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Lingfield may decide that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold premises.
I have been sourcing a conveyancing practitioner in Lingfield for my home move. Can I see a firm’s complaints history with the profession’s regulator?
Members of the public can see documented Solicitor Regulator Association (SRA) determinations resulting from inquisitions commenced on or after 1 January 2008. Visit Check a solicitor's record. For details about the period before 1 January 2008, or to check a solicitors history, telephone 0870 606 2555, 08.00 - 18.00 any week day save for Tuesday when lines open at 9.30am. International callers, dial +44 (0)121 329 6800. The SRA may recorded call for training purposes.
I acquired a house in Lingfield last 30/12/2024 and to date it is still not registered with HMLR. It is part of a development site and my lawyer told me that it can take over a year to complete the registration formalities. I have contacted the Land Registry directly and they have informed me the original application was cancelled due to failure to reply to requisitions. Should I be concerned?
It is your conveyancer that you really need to turn to here in order to satisfy any concerns which have been raised as part of the registration formalities for your Lingfield property. Normal Lingfield conveyancing practice includes an undertaking on the part of the previous owner’s property lawyer that they will help resolve any requisition raised by HMLR so it may be a case of taking action to enforce that undertaking if necessary.