The housing market in Higham Wood is hotting up. What can I do to expedite matters?

In the event that you are under time constraints to complete it is highly recommended that your solicitor is familiar with the area as they will have local relationships and intelligence. It is possible that they would have handled previoushomes in the same neighbourhood. Therefore consider using a Higham Wood conveyancing firm. Second, be sure that the lawyer is on the lender panel. It is said that 18% of Higham Wood conveyancing transactions are held up or jeopardised after discovering a buyer’s lawyer was not on their mortgage lender’s member panel. In many cases this discovery resulted in the home move being delayed by almost three weeks. It is estimated that this issue impacts in the region of one hundred thousand home moves annually. Many Higham Wood conveyancing practices can not represent certain banks so do check at the outset.

We're in Higham Wood, First timers buying with a mortgage (lender is Aldermore , and our solicitor is on the Aldermore conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?

The fact that your lawyer is on the Aldermore conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no lawyer should guarantee a timeframe for your conveyancing, due to third parties outside of your control such as delays caused by lenders,conveyancing search providers or by the other side’s solicitors. The time taken is often determined by the number of parties in a chain.

What does a local search tell me regarding the house we're buying in Higham Wood?

Higham Wood conveyancing often commences with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or via a personal search organisations such as Xpress Legal The local search plays an important part in most Higham Wood conveyancing purchase; that is if you don’t want any nasty once you have moved into your property. The search will provide data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the premises (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 subject headings.

Due to the guidance of my in-laws I had a survey completed on a house in Higham Wood before retaining solicitors. I have been informed that there is a flying freehold element to the property. My surveyor advised that some lenders tend not issue a loan on this type of house.

It depends who your proposed lender is. Lloyds has different instructions from Birmingham Midshires. Should you wish to call us we can check via the relevant bank. If you lender is happy to lend one our lawyers can help as they are accustomed to dealing with flying freeholds in Higham Wood. Conveyancing may be slightly more expensive based on your lender's requirements.

Are Higham Wood conveyancing solicitors under an obligation to the Law Society to issue transparent conveyancing costs?

Inbuilt into the Solicitors Code of Conduct are prescriptive rules and regulations as to how the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) allow solicitors to publicise their fees to clients.The Law Society have a practice note giving advice on how to publicise transparent charges to avoid breaching any such rule. Practice notes are not legal advice issued by the Law Society and is not to be interpreted as the only standard of good practice a conveyancing solicitor should adhere to. The Practice Note does, nevertheless, constitute the Law Society’s view of acceptable practice for publicising conveyancing charges, and accordingly it’s a recommended read for any solicitor or conveyancer in Higham Wood or across England and Wales.