Do I find a Licenced Conveyancer or Solicitor for conveyancing in Kent?

There are two types of lawyers who can execute conveyancing in Kent namely licenced conveyancers or solicitors. The two can administer the legal services that required to complete the sale or acquisition of property. Both are obliged to perform Kent conveyancing on similar standards and guidelines so you can be safe in the knowledge that your conveyancing will be professionally conducted and that the requisite procedures will be suitably attended to.

I am buying a end of terrace house in Kent. The intention is to an extension at the rear at the house.Will legal conveyancing on the property include enquiries to determine if these works were previously refused?

Your conveyancer should review the deeds as conveyancing in Kent can occasionally identify restrictions in the title deeds which restrict categories of alterations or require the permission of a 3rd party. Certain additions require local authority planning permissions and approval under the building regulations. Some locations are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which frequently prevent or impact extensions. It would be sensible to check these things with a surveyor ahead of any purchase.

Can you point me to a directory of Leeds Building Society panel conveyancers in Kent on the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Website?

Unfortunately not yet. There is no such facility on the CML or Building Society Association websites. Very few lenders make their panel listings available online. Where you are looking for a Kent lawyer on the Leeds Building Society please use our facility.

I note that there are debates on Chancel Insurance on online forums. Do I require this when buying a house in Kent? or Apparently there is a law dating back centuries that could mean that owners of property living in a parish church boundary may be liable to contribute towards maintenance to the chancel within the church. Is this appropriate for conveyancing in Kent?

Unless a previous acquisition of the house took place after 12 October 2013 you can assume that conveyancing practitioners carrying out conveyancing in Kent to continue to propose a a chancel search and or insurance against a claim.

I used Stirling Law several years ago for my conveyancing in Kent. Now, I need my files but the law firm is no longer operating. What do I do?

You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to assist in tracing your conveyancing files. They can be contacted on please contact on 0870 606 2555. Alternatively, you should use their online form to make an enquiry. You will need to provide the SRA with as much information as possible to assist their search, including the name and address in Kent of the conveyancing firm of solicitors you previously instructed, the name of conveyancing solicitor with whom you had dealings, and the date on which you last had dealings with the firm.

How does conveyancing in Kent differ for newly converted properties?

Most buyers of new build premises in Kent approach us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the residence is ready to move into. This is because new home sellers in Kent usually acquire the real estate, plan the estate and want to get the plots sold off as they are building the properties. Buyers, therefore, will have to exchange contracts without actually seeing the house they are buying. To reduce the chances of losing the property, buyers should instruct conveyancing solicitors as soon as the property is reserved and mortgage applications should be submitted quickly. Due to the fact that it could be several months and even years between exchange of contracts and completion, the mortgage offer may need to be extended. It would be wise to use a lawyer who specialises in new build conveyancing especially if they are used to new build conveyancing in Kent or who has acted in the same development.

I pay a service charge for my appartment in Kent. Due to losing my job and other issues I fell behind with remittance. I negotiated a settlement schedule but there is still a couple of outstanding at the current time.

I now wish to dispose of the property and I am concerned this may threaten to derail the sale if I have to discharge the arrears now. Do I have to settle before - is this achievable?

You should check with the conveyancer carrying out your Kent conveyancing but it may be possible to agree for the arrears to be passed to the purchasers. The contractual price due would be adjusted to reflect the amount of debt they take on. They would then deal with the arrears following completion of the purchase.