Our Woburn lawyer has spotted an inconsistency between the assumptions in the home valuation report and what is revealed within the legal papers for the property. My solicitor says that he must check that the lender is OK with this discrepancy and is still content to lend. Is my solicitor’s approach legitimate?

Your conveyancer must comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook requirements which do require that your lawyer disclose any incorrect assumptions in the lender’s valuation report and the legal papers. Should you refuse to allow your lawyer to make the appropriate notification then your lawyer will have no choice but to discontinue acting for both parties.

Can you explain why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Woburn costs more?

Woburn leasehold properties involve far more paperwork than a freehold purchase, and therefore takes more time to examine and advise upon.Conveyancing will involve the lease having to be checked which is usually a lengthy document, queries raised to ensure that the covenants and conditions have been observed. If it is a flat there will be a management company in existence and the accounts of this will need to be checked and enquiries raised to ensure it is operating efficiently and that all monies due have been paid by the Seller to the company and if not ensuring that money is paid up to date or the appropriate undertakings obtained.

I am assisting my mother sell her house in Woburn. Does the conveyancing solicitor order an energy assessment or it is for the owner to see to?

After the demise of HIPs, energy performance certificates became a required component of selling a property. An energy performance certificate should be to hand before the property is advertised. This is not as aspect of the sale process that conveyancers ordinarily organise. Where you are using a Woburn conveyancing practitioner they might be willing to arrange energy assessments given their contacts with long established Woburn accredited person

We are aiming to move home in February. Does my conveyancing solicitor liaise with the removal company on the day of completion. As an aside, can you recommend a removal company in Woburn. Conveyancing solicitor was found before I stumbled across your page.

On the day of completion you can collect the keys from the estate agent but this can only be done after the sellers solicitors confirm to the agent that they have the completion monies and the keys can be passed over. You can tell the removal men that you are ready to move in. We are not in a position to recommend a particular removal organisation but can assist you in choosing a residential property solicitor in Woburn or a lawyer that specialises in conveyancing in Woburn.

We expect to receive a OIP from Bank of Ireland this week so we know how much we could potentially offer as otherwise we are dependent on web based calculators (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Bank of Ireland recommend any Woburn solicitors on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel, or is it better to go independently?

You will need to appoint Woburn solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Bank of Ireland conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Bank of Ireland through the process.

How does conveyancing in Woburn differ for new build properties?

Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Woburn come to us having been asked by the builder to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the premises is ready to move into. This is because builders in Woburn usually acquire 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 Woburn or who has acted in the same development.

Having checked my lease I have discovered that there are only Seventy years left on my lease in Woburn. I now want to get lease extension but my landlord is missing. What options are available to me?

On the basis that you meet the appropriate requirements, under the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 you can submit an application to the County Court for for permission to dispense with the service of the initial notice. This will enable the lease to be granted an extra 90 years by the magistrate. However, you will be required to demonstrate that you have done all that could be expected to locate the landlord. On the whole a specialist should be helpful to conduct investigations and to produce an expert document to be accepted by the court as proof that the landlord can not be located. It is wise to seek advice from a solicitor both on devolving into the landlord’s disappearance and the vesting order request to the County Court overseeing Woburn.

Leasehold Conveyancing in Woburn - Sample of Questions you should ask before Purchasing

Is the freehold owned collectively by the leaseholders? How many years remain on the lease?