Having sold my house in South East London last May but the buyer keeps texting daily complaining that their lawyer is waiting to hear from mine. What are the post completion sale legalities following completion?
Post completion of your disposal your lawyer should forward the transfer documentation and all of the paperwork to the purchaser's conveyancer. Depending on the transaction, your conveyancer should also evidence that the home loan has been paid off to the buyers lawyers. There are no post completion formalities unique to conveyancing in South East London.
We're in South East London, FTBs buying with a mortgage (lender is , and our solicitor is on the conveyancing panel). How long should the conveyancing process take?
The fact that your lawyer is on the conveyancing panel is a help. It would almost certainly delay matters if they were not. However, no 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.
Will my solicitor be raising questions concerning flooding during the conveyancing in South East London.
Flooding is a growing risk for lawyers dealing with homes in South East London. Plenty of people will buy a house in South East London, completely expectant that at some time, it may be flooded. However, leaving to one side the physical damage, where a house is at risk of flooding, it may be difficult to get a mortgage, suitable building insurance, or dispose of the property. There are steps that can be taken as part of the conveyancing process to forewarn the purchaser.
Conveyancers are not best placed to offer advice on flood risk, but there are a various searches that can be carried out by the buyer or on a buyer’s behalf which can figure out the risks in South East London. The standard completed inquiry forms sent to a buyer’s lawyer (where the solicitors are adopting what is known as the Conveyancing Protocol) incorporates a standard inquiry of the vendor to discover if the premises has historically flooded. If flooding has previously occurred which is not revealed by the owner, then a buyer could commence a claim for damages as a result of such an incorrect reply. A buyer’s lawyers may also order an enviro report. This will higlight if there is any known flood risk. If so, additional inquiries will need to be conducted.
The deeds to our home can not be found. The lawyers who did the conveyancing in South East London 4 years ago are no longer around. What do I do?
Assuming the title is registered the information relating to your ownership will be recorded by HMLR under a Title Number. It is easy to carry out a search at the Land Registry, find your property and get current copies of the Registered Entries for less than a fiver. If the property is Leasehold then the Land Registry will also normally retain a certified copy of the Registered Lease and again, a copy can be ordered for £20 inclusive of VAT.
We're FTB’s - agreed a price, but the agent advised that the owners will only issue a contract if we instruct their chosen lawyers as they need an ‘expedited deal’. We would rather use a family solicitor with experience of conveyancing in South East London
We suspect that the owner is not behind this ultimatum. If they desire ‘a quick sale', turning down a genuine buyer is going to damage their objectives. Contact the vendors directly and explain that (a)you are motivated purchasers (b)you are ready to go, with finances arranged © you are unencumbered (d) you intend to proceed fast (e)however you are going to use your own,trusted South East London conveyancing firm - rather thanthe ones that will earn their estate agent a introducer fee or achieve conveyancing figures set by HQ.