I am purchasing a house and require a conveyancing solicitor in Cambridge who is on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing. Can you recommend a local solicitor?
Our service is limited to being a directory service for firms who wish to listed as being on the approved conveyancing panel for Leeds Building Society in certain locations such as Cambridge. We dont recommend any particular firm.
I happen to be the single beneficiary of my late father’s will with all property in now in my sole name, including the my former home in Cambridge. The Cambridge property was put into my name in June. I now wish to sell up. I understand that there is a CML 6 month 'rule', which means that my proprietorship could be regarded the same way as if I'd bought the house in June. Do I have to wait half a year to sell?
The CML handbook requires conveyancers to: "report to us immediately if the owner or registered proprietor has been registered for less than six months." By the strict wording you may be caught by that. How sensible a view mortgage companies take of it, depend on the mortgage company as this provision principally exists to identify the purchase and immediately sell or the quick reselling of property.
We have agreed to purchase a house in Cambridge. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. RBS have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?
Given that you are obtaining a mortgage with RBS your lawyer must comply with the formal requirements outlined in Part two of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for RBS. The CML Handbook stipulates minimum provisions for solar panel roof-space leases, and lawyers are required to report to RBS where a lease fails to meet these conditions. The requirements relate to the installation of panels on properties countrywide and is not isolated to Cambridge.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Cambridge off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Skipton. Conveyancing is new to me. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?
It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Skipton, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Skipton conveyancing panel.
My wife and I have a renovated Victorian house in Cambridge. Conveyancing lawyer acted for me and Halifax. I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are a couple of entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold under the matching address. Is it worth asking Halifax to clarify?
You should 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 Cambridge 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 enquire as to the position with the conveyancing practitioner who carried out the work.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a house I have offered on two weeks back in what should have been a quick, no chain conveyancing. Cambridge is the location of the property. Can you offer any guidance?
Flying freeholds in Cambridge are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Cambridge you would need to get your solicitor to go through the deeds thoroughly. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Cambridge may determine 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.
We're new to the buying process - agreed a price, but the estate agent advised that the seller will only issue a contract if we appoint their chosen lawyers as they want a ‘quick sale’. We would rather use a family solicitor with experience of conveyancing in Cambridge
It is improbable the owners are driving this. If they want ‘a quick sale', alienating a serious purchaser is counter productive. Bypass the agents and go straight to the sellers and make sure they comprehend that (a)you are serious buyers (b)you are ready to go, with finances arranged © you are chain free (d) you wish to move quickly (e)but you will continue to appoint your own,trusted Cambridge conveyancing firm - not the ones that will provide their negotiator at the agency a introducer fee or achieve conveyancing targets set by HQ.