After researching moneysavingexpert.com for an online lawyer in Gloucestershire, most comment that I should look for a CQS kitemarked solicitor. Can you explain what CQS is?
Gloucestershire Conveyancing Quality Scheme law firms have been granted accreditation by the law Society The Law Society introduced CQS to promote high standards in the home legal process. CQS enables buyers and sellers to recognise practices that provide a quality residential conveyancing. Gloucestershire is one of the many areas in England and Wales in which accredited firms are based. The scheme requires law firms to undergo a strict assessment, compulsory training, self-reporting, spot checks and annual reviews in order to maintain CQS status. It is open only to members of the Law Society who meet the demanding standards set by the scheme and has the support of the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
My colleague advised me that if I am buying in Gloucestershire I should ask my conveyancer to carry out a Neighbourhood, Planning and Local Amenity Search. What does it cover?
A search of this type is usually quoted for as part of the standard Gloucestershire conveyancing searches. It is not a small document of more than thirty pages, listing and setting out significant information about Gloucestershire around the property and the people living there. It incorporates an Aerial Photograph, Planning Applications, Land Use, Mobile Phone Masts, Rights of Way, the Gloucestershire Housing Market, Council Tax Banding, the type of People living in the area, the dominant type of Housing, the Average House Prices, Crime details, Gloucestershire Education with plans and statistics, Local Amenities and other useful data concerning Gloucestershire.
I own a terraced Edwardian house in Gloucestershire. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and . I did a free Land Registry search last week and there are two entries: the first freehold, the second leasehold with the exact same property. Is it worth asking to clarify?
You need to review the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register as there may be 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 Gloucestershire 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 purchasers. You can also question the position with the conveyancing lawyer who carried out the work.
Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a house I put an offer in two weeks back in what should have been a simple, no chain conveyancing. Gloucestershire is the location of the property. Is there any advice you can give?
Flying freeholds in Gloucestershire are rare but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Gloucestershire you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds very carefully. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Gloucestershire may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold residence.
Should I go with a Gloucestershire conveyancing practitioner in close proximity to the house I am buying? An old friend can perform the legal formalities but her office is 400kilometers drive away.
The primary upside of using a high street Gloucestershire conveyancing firm is that you can pop in to sign documents, deliver your ID and apply pressure on them where appropriate. Having local Gloucestershire know how is a benefit. However it's more important to get someone that will do a good and efficient job. If you know people who used your friend and they were impressed that should trump using an unknown Gloucestershire conveyancing solicitor just because they are Gloucestershire based.