After scouring online forums for a conveyancing solicitor in City Of London, most post that I should instruct a CQS kitemarked lawyer. Can you explain what CQS is?

The Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices issued by the Law Society. Membership achievement establishes a level of credibility for member firms with stakeholders (regulators, lenders, insurers and consumers) based upon: * the integrity of the senior responsible officer and other key conveyancing staff * the firm's adherence to good practice management standards * compliance with best practice conveyancing processes through the scheme protocol the standard covers many partnerships who conduct conveyancing in City Of London.

I am assisting my niece sell her property in City Of London. Will the conveyancer commission an energy assessment or it is for the seller to coordinate?

After the demise of Home Information Packs, energy performance certificates was kept a compulsory element of selling a house. An energy performance certificate must be to hand before the property is put on the market. This is not as aspect of the sale process that law firms ordinarily organise. Where you are instructing a City Of London conveyancing lawyer they might be able to arrange energy performance certificates due to their relationships with reputable City Of London accredited person

I was told four weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed to by Nationwide. Is it usual for Nationwide to only issue the offer once my solicitor in City Of London is approved on their conveyancing panel? Nationwide have asked my solicitor to see a copy of their PI Insurance.

Mortgage companies tend not to not issue an offer until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Nationwide to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Nationwide conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.

Clydesdale have agreed my home loan in principle, my bid on a apartment in City Of London has been agreed to, now what?

Your estate agent will wish to be advised as to your solicitor's details (be sure the conveyancers are on the lender’s panel). Telephone Clydesdale or the financial adviser and finish off any relevant forms. Clydesdale will sellect a valuer who will get in contact with the estate agent or seller to arrange a time for the valuation to occur. Once conducted (assuming no problems) it takes about a week to receive the mortgage offer. Clydesdale will send the offer to you and your lawyers. The legal work will then take it’s course according the nature and complexity of the conveyancing in City Of London.

I require expedited conveyancing in City Of London as I have an ultimatum to sign on the dotted line within one month. A home loan is not required. Can I decline from having conveyancing searches to save fees and time?

As you are are a cash buyer you have the choice not to do searches although no law firm would advise that you don't. Drawing on years of experience of conveyancing in City Of London the following are examples of what can appear and adversely impact future mortgageability: Enforcement Notices, Outstanding Fees, Overdue Grants, Railway Schemes,...

Are there restrictive covenants that are commonly picked up as part of conveyancing in City Of London?

Covenants that are restrictive in nature can be picked up when reviewing land registry title as part of the legal transfer of property in City Of London. 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…’

Just had an offer accepted on a new build apartment in City Of London. Conveyancing is daunting at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build legal work.

Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in City Of London

The Vendor must covenant to keep unoccupied units in good repair until long leases are granted therefore. 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 confirm the Lease plans are surveyor prepared. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. Please provide evidence that the form of Lease proposed has been approved by the Land Registry.