Can you help? My Dunmow conveyancer is informing me me that she is duty bound toconduct Dunmow conveyancing searches becausethe firm are on the Santandersolicitor panel. These Dunmow searches cost a lot of money can this be avoided?

Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. As you are obtaining a home loan with a mortgage company your conveyancer has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your conveyancing practitioner would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your lender’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to follow the Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook conditions . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out Dunmow conveyancing searches.

Is there a reason why leasehold purchase conveyancing in Dunmow costs more?

The conveyancing charges for a leasehold property in Dunmow is frequently higher when contrasted to a freehold transaction. This is due to the additional investigations required in dealing with the freeholder and managing agents to obtain information concerning whether the rent and service charges have been paid and whether there are any large sums expected to be spent in the near future on repairs or maintenance of the building.

Will our conveyancer be asking questions regarding flooding as part of the conveyancing in Dunmow.

The risk of flooding is if increasing concern for lawyers dealing with homes in Dunmow. There are those who buy a property in Dunmow, fully expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, where a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, adequate building insurance, or dispose of the property. Steps can be carried out during the course of a house purchase to forewarn the buyer.

Solicitors are not qualified to offer advice on flood risk, however there are a number of checks that can be initiated by the purchaser or by their solicitors which should give them a better understanding of the risks in Dunmow. The standard completed inquiry forms supplied to a purchaser’s lawyer (where the Conveyancing Protocol is adopted) includes a usual question of the vendor to discover whether the property has ever been flooded. If flooding has previously occurred which is not revealed by the owner, then a purchaser could commence a compensation claim as a result of such an misleading reply. The buyer’s solicitors should also carry out an environmental report. This will indicate if there is a recorded flood risk. If so, further investigations should be initiated.

What does commercial conveyancing in Dunmow cover?

Dunmow conveyancing for business premises incorporates a wide array of advice, provided by qualified solicitors, relating to business property. For instance, this type of conveyancing can cover the sale or purchase of freehold business premises or, more commonly, the transfer of existing business tenancies or the drafting of new leasing arrangements. Commercial conveyancing solicitors can also offer advice on the sale of business assets, commercial mortgages and the termination of tenancies.

We have appointed a Dunmow conveyancing solicitor for our house purchase (first time buyers) and have picked up in the engagement letter that they are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Am I right to be concerned or is that usually the case with conveyancing practitioner?

We can't see why they should be. Most property lawyer don't lend money. They should be regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, who have specific stipulations regulating monies held on client account.