What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Atherton? Why is this being asked of me?

You are right in the requirement set out by your lawyer has nothing to do with conveyancing in Atherton. However these days you can not proceed with any conveyancing process without first submitting proof of your identity. Ordinarily this takes the form of a either your passport or driving licence and a council tax bill. Remember if you are supplying your driving licence as proof of identification it must be both the paper element as well as the photo card part, one is not sufficient without the other.

Evidence of your source of monies is necessary under Money Laundering Regulations. Please do not be offended when you are asked to produce this as your conveyancing solicitor will need to have this information on file. Your Atherton conveyancing solicitor will require evidence of proof of funds prior to accepting any monies from you into their client account and they should also ask additional queries concerning the source of funds.

I had intended to instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Atherton for our home move. Our broker informed us that our mortgage lenders Accord Mortgages Ltd won't deal with them. Surely this is unduly restrictive?

Mortgage Companies tend to restrict either the category or the volume of conveyancing solicitors on their approved list of lawyers. A common example of such restriction(s) being that a law practice must not be a sole practitioner. In addition to restricting the type of firm, some have reduced the amount of firms they allow to represent them. Be aware that Accord Mortgages Ltd have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any member of Accord Mortgages Ltd Conveyancer Panel. Mortgage fraud was a primary driver in the rationalisation of solicitor panels since 2008 even though there remains differing views regarding the extent of solicitor engagement in some of that fraud. Statistics from the Land Registry indicate that plenty of law firms, including some in or near Atherton only carry out one or two conveyances per annum.

I used Wolstenholmes a few years ago for my conveyancing in Atherton. I now require my papers however the law firm has closed. What do I do?

Do call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Atherton of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously retained, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

I am using a search engine for the words cheap conveyancing in Atherton it reveals numerous solicitorsin the vicinity. How do I determine which is the right conveyancing solicitor for the sale of my house?

The preferential method of finding the right conveyancer is through a trusted recommendation, so enquire of colleagues and those you trust who have acquired a property in Atherton or the reputable estate agent or mortgage broker. Fees for conveyancing in Atherton differ, so it's a good idea to obtain a minimum of four quotes from different solicitors. Dont forget to clarify what costs in the quote includes.

I am tempted by the attractive purchase price for a couple of apartments in Atherton both have about forty five years left on the leases. Should I regard a short lease as a deal breaker?

There are plenty of short leases in Atherton. The lease is a legal document that entitles you to use the property for a period of time. As the lease gets shorter the value of the lease decreases and it becomes more costly to extend the lease. This is why it is often a good idea to increase the term of the lease. It is often difficult to sell a property with a short lease because mortgage companies less inclined to grant a loan on properties of this type. Lease enfranchisement can be a protracted process. We advise that you get professional assistance from a conveyancer and surveyor with experience in this arena.

Atherton Leasehold Conveyancing - A selection of Queries before Purchasing

Best to be warned whether redecorating or some other significant cost is pending that will be shared between the leaseholders and could well dramatically increase the the maintenance charges or necessitate a one off invoice. What is the maintenance charge and ground rent on the property? Most Atherton leasehold flats will incur a service charge for maintenance of the building levied by the freeholder. If you purchase the flat you will have to meet this amount, normally periodically throughout the year. This could vary from several hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for large purpose-built blocks. In all probability there will be a ground rent to be met yearly, this is usually not a exorbitant amount, say about £50-£100 but you need to enquire as occasionally it can be surprisingly expensive.