My wife and I are purchasing a 1 bedroom apartment in Shoreditch with a mortgage. We wish to retain our Shoreditch solicitor, however the mortgage company advise she’s not on their "panel". We have to appoint one of the mortgage company panel firms or continue with our Shoreditch property lawyer and pay for one of their panel ones to represent them. We feel that this is unjust; is there anything we can do?
No, not really. The mortgage offered to you is subject to its terms and conditions, one of which will be that lawyers will on the lender’s conveyancing panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. A further alternative is for your Shoreditch conveyancing lawyer to apply to be on the conveyancing panel.
My wife and I are soon to exchange buying a house in Shoreditch but as a result of damage from some water damage at the property I have managed to agree compensation from the current proprietors in the sum of £3k in the form of a reduction in the price. This was going to be dealt with as part of the conveyancing process but TSB are not allowing this. Should they have been involved?
The property lawyer that is on the TSB approved list is required to inform TSB of any amendments to the sale price. If you prohibit your solicitor to disclose the reduction to TSB then they would have to discontinue acting for you. In addition, TSB and you would have to appoint a new lawyer for your conveyancing in Shoreditch.
What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Shoreditch? Is this really necessary?
Anti-terror and anti-money-laundering rules require solicitors and licensed conveyancers to check the identity of the potential client they are dealing with prior to agreeing to accepting their conveyancing business. The Terms and Conditions that you are required to sign will no doubt confirm this. Your lender will also require certain documents to be checked. Should you refuse to hand over ID verification documents, your solicitor will not be able to take you on as a client.
What is the best way to find out if the solicitor handling my conveyancing in Shoreditch is on the bank’sapproved panel? I am looking to avoid the situation of having one lawyer for me and one for Britannia thus paying £192.00 in supplemental conveyancing invoice.
Please do take advantage of the find a lender approved solicitor tool on this web page. Pick the mortgage company and type ‘Shoreditch’ or your preferred area and you will discover a number of lawyer located in Shoreditch or near you.
The deeds to our property can not be found. The solicitors who handled the conveyancing in Shoreditch 5 years ago no longer exist. Will I be able to sell the house?
As long as the title is registered the details of your ownership will be retained by the Land Registry with a Title Number. It is easy to perform a search at the Land Registry, find your house and order up to date copies of the property title for less than a fiver. If the title is Leasehold then the Land Registry will also normally hold a file duplicate of the Registered Lease and again, a copy can be ordered for twenty pounds.
Just had an offer accepted on a new build apartment in Shoreditch. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build legal work.
Set out below are examples of a selection of leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Shoreditch
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Where service of notices and proceedings can be at the property demised please confirm that this can be amended to include simultaneous services at the Lessees’ solicitors’ offices where the Lessee from time to time is not resident in the UK - such solicitors may be varied by notice in writing to the Landlord from time to time but otherwise will be as previously specified. Please supply a car parking plan. The Vendor must covenant to keep unoccupied units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease.