It is is a decade since I purchased my home in Crawcrook. Conveyancing lawyers have just been instructed on the sale but I can't track down the title documents. Is this a problem?
Don’t worry too much. Firstly the deeds may be retained by the mortgage company or they could stored with the lawyers who handled your purchase. Secondly in all probability the property will be recorded at the land registry and you will be able to prove you are the registered owner by your conveyancing lawyers obtaining up to date copy of the land registers. Nearly all conveyancing in Crawcrook involves registered property but in the unlikely event that your property is not registered it is more of a problem but is not insurmountable.
My grandfather passed away 10 months ago and as sole heir and executor I was left the property in Crawcrook. The house had a small mortgage left on it of around £4500. I want to have the title changed into my name whilst I re-mortgage to HSBC, pay off the mortgage. Is this allowed?
Where you plan to re-mortgage then HSBC will require that you use a conveyancer on the HSBC conveyancing panel. Here is link to the Land Registry online guidance around what to do when a property owner dies. This will help you to understand the registration process behind changing the details re the registered title. in your case it would appear that you are effectively purchasing the property from the estate. Your HSBC conveyancing panel solicitor pays the new mortgage money into the estate, the estate pays off the old mortgage, the charge is released and you become the owner and the HSBC mortgage is registered as a charge at the Land Registry.
I am planning on selling our property in Crawcrook and according to the buyers it appears that there is a risk of it being built land that was not decontaminated. Any local lawyer would know this is not the case. It does beg the question why the buyers instructed a web based conveyancing practice as opposed to a conveyancing solicitor in Crawcrook. We have lived in Crawcrook for six years we know that this is a non issue. Should we get in touch with our local Authority to obtain confirmation that the buyers are looking for.
It sounds as though you may have a conveyancing lawyer already. Are they able to advise? You must enquire of your lawyer before you do anything. It is very possible that once the local authority has been informed of a potential issue it cannot be insured against (a bit like being diagnosed with a serious illness and then taking out health insurance to cover that same sickness)
How does conveyancing in Crawcrook differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Crawcrook come to us having been asked by the developer to exchange contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is completed. This is because builders in Crawcrook typically purchase the land, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct property lawyers as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Crawcrook or who has acted in the same development.
I'm remortgaging my existing home to a BTL loan with Barclays and intend to use the remaining equity as a down payment on a second house. The area we are interested in is Crawcrook. Will your solicitors be able to act for both sets of banks and link together the conveyances?
Make use of our comparison tool on this site to be sure that the conveyancers are approved by both banks. Having checked that they are the lawyer will be able to connect the two conveyancing matters but you should have a chat with you conveyancer and make clear your desired outcome and requirements.