What does my ID and proof of funds have anything to do with my conveyancing in Highams Park? Why is this being asked of me?

Highams Park conveyancing solicitors and indeed property lawyers throughout the UK have an obligation under money laundering regulations to verify the ID of any client in order to ensure that clients are who they say they are.

Conveyancing clients will need to supply two forms of certified identification; proof of identity (usually a Passport or Driving Licence) and proof of address (typically a Bank Statement no more than three months).

Proof of source of monies is also necessary under the money laundering statutes as conveyancers are mandated to ensure that the funds you are using to acquire a property (whether it be the deposit for exchange or the full purchase amount where you are a cash purchaser) has originated from legitimate source (such as an inheritance) rather than the proceeds of illegitimate activity.

I am helping my niece sell her flat in Highams Park. Will the conveyancer arrange an energy performance certificate or should I organise this?

After the abolition of Home Information Packs, energy performance certificates was maintained a mandatory element of selling a house. An energy assessment should be to hand in advance of the property being advertised. It is not something that solicitors ordinarily organise. Where you are instructing a Highams Park conveyancing lawyer they may help arrange energy assessments given their contacts with long established Highams Park accredited person

I just bought a flat at auction in Highams Park. Conveyancing is required. What are my next steps?

Having exchanged you now have to instruct a conveyancing practitioner soon as you are facing a fast approaching a fixed date to complete the deal. An auction property will ordinarily have an associated auction set of papers. This will likely include the copy title deeds, local authority and drainage searches. Where you are dealing with leasehold premises the conveyancing papers may include a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing documentation specific to leasehold premises. You need to give this to the lawyer instructed by you ASAP. You also need to ensure that you have funds in place to complete the transaction on the set completion date.

I am selling my house. I had a double glazing fitted in September 2006, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My purchaser’s lender, are being problematic. The Highams Park solicitor who is on the conveyancing panel is saying indemnity insurance will be fine but are requiring a building regulation certificate. Why do have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?

It is probably the case that have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing was correctly and safely installed. The indemnity insurance merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.

What does a local search reveal regarding the property we're purchasing in Highams Park?

Highams Park conveyancing often commences with the ordering local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search company for example Onsearch The local search plays an important part in many a Highams Park conveyancing purchase; as long as you wish to avoid any nasty once you have moved into your new home. The search should supply information 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 areas.

Me and my brother have a renovated Georgian house in Highams Park. Conveyancing solicitor represented me and . I did a free Land Registry search last week and I saw a couple of entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold under the matching property. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You need to assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered owner of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Highams Park and other locations in the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they remortgage they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with buyers. You can also question the situation with the conveyancing solicitor who conducted the work.

I am hoping to complete next month on a leasehold property in Highams Park. Conveyancing lawyers have said that they are sending me a report on Monday. Are there areas in the report that I should be focusing on?

The report on title for your leasehold conveyancing in Highams Park should include some of the following:

What options are open to you if an adjoining owner is in violation of a provision in their lease? How long the lease is. You should be advised as what happens when the lease ends, and informed of the importance of the 80 year mark Details of the parties to the lease, e.g. these could be the leaseholder, head lessor, freeholder You should have a good understanding of the insurance obligations Whether the lease restricts you from renting out the property, or working from home

I purchased a 1 bedroom flat in Highams Park, conveyancing was carried out half a dozen years ago. Can you give me give me an indication of the likely cost of a lease extension? Similar properties in Highams Park with an extended lease are worth £165,000. The ground rent is £45 yearly. The lease finishes on 21st October 50

With 50 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to be between £36,100 and £41,800 as well as legals.

The figure above a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of detailed investigations. Do not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be additional concerns that need to be considered and clearly you should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.