It is is a decade since I bought my home in Colindale. Conveyancing solicitors have just been retained on the sale but I can't find the title documents. Is this a major issue?
You need not be too concerned. Firstly there is a possibility that the deeds will be kept by your mortgage company or they could be archived with the conveyancers who acted in the purchase. Secondly in all probability the title will be registered at the land registry and you will be able to establish that you own the property by your conveyancing lawyers acquiring up to date copy of the land registers. Most conveyancing in Colindale involves registered property but in the unlikely event that your property is unregistered it is more problematic but is not insurmountable.
This question may be naive but I am unseasoned as FTB of a ground floor flat in Colindale. Do I pick up the keys to the house on completion from my lawyer? If so, I will find a local conveyancing solicitor in Colindale?
On the day of completion you do not need to go to the conveyancers office in Colindale. Conveyancing lawyers for you will electronically transfer the completion advance to the seller's conveyancers, and once they have received this, you should be called to pick up the keys from the Estate Agents and move into your new home. Usually this occurs between 1 and 3pm.
Is it the case that all Colindale solicitors on the conveyancing panel are regulated by the SRA?
As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the approved list of solicitors they would need to be governed by the SRA. The majority of banks do permit licenced conveyancers on their panel in which case such firms would be governed by the CLC.
I had a mortgage agreed in principle with . Colindale conveyancing practitioners are appointed. What is the average time that one could expect to receive a mortgage offer from ?
There is no definitive answer here. Have done the valuation? Have you informed as to your lawyers' details and checked that your lawyers are on the conveyancing panel? Sometimes it can take as long as six weeks for a mortgage offer to be issued.
I have been on the look out for a flat up to £245,000 and identified one close by in Colindale I like with open areas and transport links in the vicinity, the downside is that it only has 49 years unexpired on the lease. I can't really find anything else in Colindale in this price bracket, so just wondered if I would be making a grave error purchasing a short lease?
Should you require a mortgage the remaining unexpired lease term will likely be problematic. Reduce the offer by the amount the lease extension will cost if not already taken into account. If the existing proprietor has owned the premises for at least twenty four months you could ask them to start the process of the extension and pass it to you. An additional ninety years can be extended on to the existing lease term and have £0 ground rent by law. You should consult your conveyancing solicitor about this.
Do I need to be concerned about brokers that I am dealing with are suggesting an online conveyancing firm as opposed to a High Street Colindale conveyancing company?
As is the case with lots of professional services, often suggestions from relatives can be extremely useful or valuable. Nevertheless there are many players in a conveyancing transaction; estate agents, financial adviser and lenders may recommend solicitors to choose. Sometimes the solicitors might be known to one of the organisations as one of the best in their field, but occasionally there might be a commercial relationship behind the recommendation. You have the discretion to select your own lawyer. You need to be aware that many lenders specify a panel list of solicitors you must use for the mortgage related work in your conveyancing.
I need to instruct a conveyancing solicitor for leasehold conveyancing in Colindale. I've chance upon a site which looks to be the ideal answer If there is a chance to get all formalities done via email that would be ideal. Do I need to be wary? What should out be looking out for?
As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?