We were about to instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Hackney Wick recommended using your comparison tool but have come across some other quotes on the internet look less expensive – how come?

There are lots of solicitors marketing what appear to be the cheapest conveyancing in Hackney Wick. You should give due consideration as to how important this transaction is to you that you are willing to be penny wise pound foolish concerning the quality of the conveyancing. Some hide additional charges deep into the terms of engagement. The conveyancers that we list for conveyancing in Hackney Wick will notdo this.

I am helping my niece sell her house in Hackney Wick. Does the conveyancer commission an energy performance certificate or should I organise this?

Following the demise of Home Information Packs, energy assessments remained a required element of selling a house. An energy assessment must be commissioned before the property is put on the market. This is not a task that law firms ordinarily arrange. Where you are using a Hackney Wick conveyancing practitioner they may help arrange EPC’s due to their contacts with reputable Hackney Wick accredited person

Is it correct that all Hackney Wick CQS (Conveyancing Quality Scheme) solicitors are on the Leeds Building Society conveyancing panel?

It is true that some banks and building societies now utilise CQS as the starting point for Panel membership such as HSBC and Santander. The Law Society’s CQS accreditation however gives no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. That being said,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to join their approved list of firms.

We had appointed conveyancers locally in Hackney Wick on the RBS solicitor panel. They are now charging me a separate amount for the legal aspects of the RBS mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee specified by RBS?

As unfair as it may seem, as long as it’s in their Terms of Engagement or estimate then yes your lawyer can charge a fee for this. The fee is not dictated by RBS but by your Hackney Wick solicitor. Some firms on the RBS panel will quote an ‘acting for lender’ fee but some practices include it on their overall fee.

Due to the encouragement of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Hackney Wick before appointing conveyancers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold overhang to the house. The surveyor advised that some mortgage companies tend not grant a loan on a flying freehold property.

It varies from the lender to lender. Santander has different requirements for example to Halifax. Should you wish to telephone us we can check via the relevant mortgage company. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can assist as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Hackney Wick. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Hackney Wick especially if they are familiar with such properties in Hackney Wick.

My husband and I are novice buyers - agreed a price, yet the estate agent told us that the owners will only go ahead if we appoint the agent's preferred conveyancers as they are insisting on a ‘quick sale’. We would rather use a local solicitor who is accustomed to conveyancing in Hackney Wick

We suspect that the owner is unaware of this demand. If they desire ‘a quick sale', taking such a hostile approach to a motivated purchaser is likely to cause more damage than good. Speak to the vendors direct and explain that (a)you are genuine buyers (b)you are ready to progress, with finances arranged © you are unencumbered (d) you wish to move quickly (e)however you are going to use your preferred Hackney Wick conveyancing lawyers - not the ones that will give the negotiator at the agency a commission or hit his conveyancing figures pre-set by HQ.

My son is about to join the property ladder, he had his mortgage in principle. One the seller agreed the offer on the house we rang the mortgage institution to issue the formal offer. I was shocked to hear that mortgage lenders do not accept all lawyer, they must be on their panel, is this right?

Banks ordinarily restrict either the type or the number of conveyancing practices on their approved list of lawyers. Typical examples of such restriction(s) being that a firm must have two or more partners. In addition to restricting the type of firm, some have decided to limit the number of firms they use to represent them. You should note that banks have no responsibility for the quality of advice provided by any Hackney Wick property lawyer on their panel. Mortgage fraud was a key driver in the rationalisation of conveyancing panels a few years ago and whilst there are differing views about the extent of solicitor involvement in some of that fraud. Statistics from the Land Registry reveal that thousands of law firms only carry out one or two conveyances a year. Those supporting conveyancing panel cuts ask why law firms should have the right to be on a Lender panel when clearly, conveyancing is not their speciality. To put it another way; would you want a conveyancing solicitor to represent you if you were charged with a crime? Presumably not.