We have agreed to purchase a house in Freezywater. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Bank of Ireland 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 Bank of Ireland your lawyer must comply with the conveyancing requirements outlined in Section 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Bank of Ireland. The Council of Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook stipulates minimum provisions for solar panel roof-space leases, and lawyers are required to report to Bank of Ireland where a lease fails to satisfy these specifications. The provisions relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not limited to Freezywater.
My partner and I are in the throws of viewing flats in Freezywater and I am about to put in an offer. Is it too early to have a solicitor in place? I am planning to take a mortgage with UBS.
It would be advisable to instigate your search sooner rather than later. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on to the estate agent. Given that you are seeking a mortgage with UBS, ask your prospective lawyers if they are on the UBS conveyancing panel otherwise they can't do the mortgage legal work.
I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in Freezywater off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Clydesdale. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. 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 Clydesdale, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel.
I purchased a renovated Edwardian house in Freezywater. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and HSBC Bank. I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same property. Is it worth asking HSBC Bank to clarify?
You should read the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Freezywater and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they mortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with purchasers. You can also check the position with your conveyancing solicitor who completed the work.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I put an offer in a fortnight ago in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Freezywater is where the house is located. Can you offer any opinion?
Flying freeholds in Freezywater are unusual but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Freezywater you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your mortgage company may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Freezywater 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.
My husband and I are four weeks into a leasehold purchase having been directed to solicitors by the high street agent to perform conveyancing in Freezywater. I am am extremely dissatisfied with the level of service. Could you help me find new lawyers?
They would have to be very poor to suggest changing them. Has the mortgage been generated? In the event that it has you need to advise them of the new contact details and ensure the mortgage documents are re-issued. The conveyancer needs to be on the mortgage company approved list to avoid escalating charges and complications. So that should be your starting point. Our find a solicitor tool can assist you in finding a bank approved lawyer for your conveyancing in Freezywater
I acquired a flat in Freezywater last 17/7/2024 and to date it is still not recorded with HM Land Registry. It is part of a development site and my conveyancing practitioner told me that it may take twelve months to complete the registration formalities. I have spoken with HM Land Registry directly and they say that the original application was cancelled due to questions not being addressed in time. Do I need to be concerned?
It is your conveyancer that you should turn to here in order to satisfy any issues which have arisen as part of the registration process for your Freezywater property. Normal Freezywater conveyancing practice includes an undertaking on the part of the previous owner’s property lawyer that they will assist in resolving any requirements raised by HMLR so it may be a case of seeking to enforce that undertaking if necessary.