Whether you're a layman looking to understand your own transaction or a lawyer needing assistance with a client's conveyancing our step by step sale and purchase guides will lead you through the process while our mini guides will break the whole thing into manageable chunks and give a deep insight into the key issues and stages. Leasehold, freehold, unregistered, registered – we've got it all covered.
Need help with a remortgage or transfer of equity / deed of gift? Our guides will walk you through the process and highlight some of the common pitfalls. Mortgages and transfers can be very simple procedures but complex issues can sometimes arise and mistakes are easily made. These guides will help you deal with them.
So you want to have a go at your own conveyancing? First you should read about the risks, then if you're still happy to proceed, our guides will take you through each stage of the process telling you what to look out for and helping you avoid falling into expensive traps. Our subscription service will give you access to all of the documents you should need for your conveyancing and we can even supply you with the Land Registry Official Copies you'll need. Our general guides will cover all the obstacles you are likely to face and offer a practical solution. Have a look at our sale and purchase guides too.
A big part of the conveyancing process is the conveyancing searches. This section tells you all about them. What they are, how and when to order them and how to interpret the results. Each search has its own guide and you'll see they are separated into Standard (should be done in every case), Regional (area specific) and Optional (not essential but often useful tools for the would be purchaser). All buyers should beware that when you buy a property, the law assumes that you have seen the information that would have been revealed by searches whether or not you have actually carried them out, so you buy the property subject to the results.
Using a conveyancer to handle your conveyancing will greatly reduce the risk to you and sometimes, particularly if you are taking out a new mortgage, you will have no choice but to instruct a conveyancer. The good news is it doesn't have to break the bank. Get a free, instant quote here. We can also help with quick easy quotes for other moving related services.
Are you looking for the documents you'll need for your conveyancing transaction? Or official copies of the title or other documents from Land Registry. We can help you. Follow the links below.
Hiya, I was declared bankrupt in 2007 and since have worked really hard to get my credit rating up to the point where I have been accepted for a mortgage with the Halifax. I am scared stiff however that my bankruptcy will come back to haunt me on the conveyancer searches. I was asked the question 'are you bankrupt' by my mortgage advisor not 'have you ever been' so I have answered truthfully, but don't want to get caught out, in your opinion do I have anything to worry about?
Hi,
Thanks for your question. Your conveyance will carry out a "Bankruptcy Search" following exchange of contracts but prior to completion. This may bring up entries relating to your bankruptcy even though you have been discharged. If so then your conveyancer will need to report the entries to your lender which could ultimately lead to withdrawal of the mortgage offer. As you will be under contract at this point this would lead to you defaulting on the contract and losing your 10% deposit. You shouldn't worry too much however, your lender will have carried out credit checks and clearly they are satisfied if they have issued a formal mortgage offer. To protect yourself you should do 2 things:
1. Speak to your broker (or to the Halifax if you arranged the mortgage direct) and explain the situation. If you don't then if and when the bankruptcy is reported by your conveyancer the lender might think you deliberately concealed it which could be reason in itself to withdraw the offer even if the fact of the bankruptcy isn't.
2. Tell your conveyancer now and ask him/her to carry out a bankruptcy now and make any report to the lender that they need to make AFTER you have spoken to the lender about the fact you have previously been bankrupt. This will allow your conveyancer to deal with any special requirements your lender has before you are under contract thus reducing the risk to you.
It is possible that the lender will withdraw its offer as a result of this but whilst I'm sure that would be incredibly disappointing for you, if it is to happen it is far better that it happens prior to exchange of contracts and this would prevent you from being liable to the seller for breach of contract.
I hope this helps.
Best regards
Admin