Me and my husband are buying a leasehold flat in Merton. My lawyer is not listed on the bank conveyancing panel. Am I still permitted to appoint my Merton conveyancing solicitor notwithstanding that they are not on the mortgage company panel of approved conveyancing solicitors?
Your options include
- Carry on with your existing Merton conveyancing practitioner but your mortgage company will need to retain a conveyancer on their approved list. The net result is additional cost and potential interruption.
- Choose a new property lawyer to conduct the conveyancing, making sure they are on the lender conveyancing panel.
- Convince your lawyer to pull out all the stops to join the bank’s conveyancing panel
What does a local search tell me regarding the property we're purchasing in Merton?
Merton conveyancing often starts with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search company for example Xpress Legal The local search is essential in every Merton conveyancing purchase; that is if you wish to avoid any nasty once you have moved into your property. The search will reveal data on, amongst other things, details on planning applications applicable 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 thirteen subject sections.
Have completed on a a terraced house in Merton , how long will it take for the Land Registry to deal with the formalities evidencing the transfer to my name? My Merton conveyancing solicitor has been very slow, so I want to be certain the post completion formalities are concluded.
There is nothing unique when it comes to conveyancing in Merton registration formalities. Rather than based on location, timescales can adjust according to who lodges the application, whether it is in order and if the Land registry must send notices to any 3rd parties. As of today roughly 80% of such applications are fully dealt with within 12 days but occasionally there can be protracted hold-ups. Historically registration is effected once the purchaser is living at the property so registration formalities is not usually an essential issue but if there is a degree of urgency associated with the registration then you or your lawyers should communicate with the Registry to express the reasoning for the application to be prioritised.
How does conveyancing in Merton differ for new build properties?
Most buyers of new build or newly converted property in Merton contact us having been asked by the housebuilder to sign contracts and commit to the purchase even before the property is finished. This is because builders in Merton typically buy the land, 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 conveyancers 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 Merton or who has acted in the same development.
My uncle has urged me to appoint his lawyers for conveyancing in Merton. Should I find my own solicitor?
There are no two ways about it it’s preferable to select a conveyancing lawyer is to get guidance from friends or relatives who have actually experience in using the solicitor that you are are thinking of instructing.