My wife and I are selling our home in Totterdown and the buyers lawyers are claiming that there is a risk of it being constructed on contaminated land. A local lawyer would know this is not the case. It does beg the question why the purchasers instructed a nationwide conveyancing outfit as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Totterdown. We have lived in Totterdown for many years we know of no issue. Do we get in touch with local Authority to seek confirmation need.
It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer already. What do they say? You need to 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 illness)
Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up during conveyancing in Totterdown?
Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in Totterdown. An 1874 stipulation that was seen was ‘The houses to be erected on the estate are each to be of a uniform elevation in accordance with the drawings to be prepared or approved by the vendor’s surveyor…’
How does conveyancing in Totterdown differ for newly converted properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Totterdown contact us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is built. This is because developers in Totterdown usually buy 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 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 used to new build conveyancing in Totterdown or who has acted in the same development.