We see that you have a search directory listing solicitors on the conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a commission if I instruct them for our conveyancing in Havant?
We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Havant.
My wife and I buying a victorian detached house in Havant. Our aim is to carry out an extension to the side at the property.Will the conveyancing process involve investigations to see if these alterations are permitted?
Your conveyancer will check the registered title as conveyancing in Havant can on occasion identify restrictions in the title deeds which prevent categories of changes or necessitated the permission of a 3rd party. Certain additions need local authority planning consent and approval in compliance with building regulations. Many areas are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which frequently prevent or affect extensions. It would be prudent to check these issues with a surveyor prior to committing yourself to a purchase.
After weeks of negotiation I have agreed a price on an apartment in Havant. My mortgage broker pressured me to appoint their . I paid an advanced payment of £150. Soon after, the contacted me sheepishly admitting that they were not on the conveyancing panel. Am I right in thinking that I should be due a refund?
You should be able to recover this from the law firm if they were not on the panel. They should have asked at the outset which lender you were obtaining a mortgage with. An important lesson to readers of this site is to check that the lawyers are on the appropriate lender panel.
Having read lots of mortgage guides, I note that they all recommend that you should get your house surveyed prior to buying it. When I asked my local Havant solicitor - who is on the conveyancing panel - on this she said they don't do this and I need to contract an independent surveyor. Is that normal?
will need an independent valuation of the property. Your lawyer will not arrange this. Usually will appoint their own surveyor to do this, and you will have to pay for it. Remember that this is a valuation for mortgage purposes and not a survey. Your will not organise the survey but they may be able to put you in touch with a local one that they recommend. RICS offers a find a surveyor service (just google it) where you can search for a qualified surveyor by your Havant postcode. As you are getting a mortgage with , you could contact them to see if they have a list of approved surveyors in Havant.
Should my conveyancer be raising questions about flooding as part of the conveyancing in Havant.
Flooding is a growing risk for conveyancers conducting conveyancing in Havant. Plenty of people will buy a property in Havant, completely expectant that at some time, it may suffer from flooding. However, aside from the physical damage, if a property is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to obtain a mortgage, suitable insurance cover, or sell the premises. Steps can be carried out as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.
Solicitors are not qualified to impart advice on flood risk, however there are a number of searches that may be carried out by the purchaser or by their solicitors which should figure out the risks in Havant. The standard property information forms sent to a purchaser’s lawyer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) includes a usual inquiry of the vendor to determine if the property has ever been flooded. If flooding has previously occurred which is not disclosed by the vendor, then a buyer could bring a compensation claim resulting from an misleading answer. The buyer’s solicitors will also commission an enviro search. This will higlight if there is any known flood risk. If so, further inquiries will need to be initiated.
I decided to have a survey done on a house in Havant in advance of retaining lawyers. I have been advised that there is a flying freehold overhang to the property. My surveyor advised that some mortgage companies may refuse to grant a mortgage on a flying freehold premises.
It depends who your proposed lender is. HSBC has different requirements for example to Birmingham Midshires. Should you wish to telephone us we can check via the appropriate lender. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Havant. Conveyancing will be smoother if you use a solicitor in Havant especially if they regularly deal with such properties in Havant.
My brother has suggested that I appoint his conveyancing solicitors in Havant. Should I find my own solicitor?
No doubt it’s preferable to choose a conveyancing solicitor is to get guidance from friends or relatives who have previously instructed the solicitor you're contemplating using.