Please explain the implications if my solicitor is removed from the Solicitor panel ahead of completing my conveyancing in Leicester?

The first thing to point out is that, this is a very rare occurrence. In most cases even where a law firm is removed off of a panel the lender would allow the completion to go ahead as the lender would appreciate the difficulties that they would place you in if you have to instruct a new solicitor days before completion. In a worst case scenario where the lender insists that you instruct a new firm then it is possible for a very good lawyer to expedite the conveyancing albeit that you may pay a significant premium for this. The analogous situation is where a buyer instructs a lawyer, exchanges contracts and the law firm is shut down by a regulator such as the SRA. Again, in this situation you can find lawyers who can troubleshoot their way to bring the conveyancing to a satisfactory conclusion - albeit at a cost.

Forgive me if this question is silly but I am wet behind the ears as FTB of a two bedroom flat in Leicester. Do I collect the keys to the property on completion from my solicitor? If this is the case, I will use a High Street conveyancing solicitor in Leicester?

On the day of completion you will not be required to attend the conveyancers office in Leicester. Your solicitors will electronically transfer the completion advance to the owner’s conveyancers, and once they have received this, you will be able to collect the keys from the property Agents and start moving into the property. Usually this occurs between 1 and 3pm.

We are purchasing a end of terrace house in Leicester. The intention is to an extension at the rear at the property.Will the conveyancing process involve enquiries to determine if these works were previously refused?

Your solicitor should check the deeds as conveyancing in Leicester will occasionally reveal restrictions in the title documents which prevent categories of works or require the permission of a 3rd party. Some additions require local authority planning consent and approval in accordance building regulations. Some locations are designated conservation areas and special planning restrictions apply which often prevent or impact extensions. You should check these things with a surveyor prior to committing yourself to a purchase.

When it comes to lenders such as , do Leicester face an annual charge to be on the conveyancing panel?

We are not aware of any bank fees to be on their list of approved firms, although some do charge an administration fee to deal with the processing of the conveyancing panel application.

I used Wolstenholmes a few years ago for my conveyancing in Leicester. I now require my papers but cannot find the solicitor. What do I do?

You should call the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) to help locate 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 Leicester 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.

I’m about to sell my 2 bed apartment in Leicester. Conveyancing has not commenced, but I have recently received a yearly maintenance charge invoice – should I leave it to the buyer to sort out?

It best that you clear the service charge as usual because all rents and maintenance invoices should be allotted as part of the financial calculations for completion monies, so you should recover the relevant percentage by the purchaser for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer unless the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

Leicester Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - A selection of Queries Prior to buying

Where a Leicester lease has fewer than 80 years it will impact the value of the flat. Check with your bank that they are willing to lend given the lease term. Leases with fewer than 80 years remaining means that you will most likely require a lease extension sooner rather than later and it is worth finding out what this would cost. Remember, in most cases you would need to own the residence for a couple of years in order to be entitled to extend the lease. How is the lease structured? The prefered form of lease structure is if the freehold reversion is in the ownership of the leaseholders. In this situation the tenants benefit from being in charge if their destiny and although a managing agent is usually retained where it is larger than a house conversion, the managing agent employed by the leaseholders.

Why is New Build conveyancing in Leicester more costly?

Conveyancing in Leicester for recently converted or new build properties often involve adoption of highways & drains, building regulations approval, planning permission, new build warranties such NHBC as well as supplemental investigations and contractual considerations.