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.
I have recently bought a house where the seller stated on the SPIF that no modifications had been made to the property, in particular none that had a need for planning consent within the last 10 years.
I had a homebuyers survey carried out
The survey did not highlight that a pitched replacement roof, over an existing flat roof, had been poorly constructed so as to be dangerous and that it had not ben approved for PP by the local authority. I also discover that a wood burner added to the property also requiring PP has not been obtained. This was not noted by my solicitor or the surveyor.
What are my options and can I obtain financial redress from the solicitor, seller or surveyor for not getting or pointing out PP on the 2 modifications?
Hi,
I think the issue is lack of building regulations approval rather than lack of planning permission (certainly for the log burner which didn't need planning.permission). I couldn't comment on what liability your surveyor might have as I don't know the limitations of the homebuyers survey (it is not a full structural report) . If your seller knew about the works and didn't disclose them you might be able to sue for misrepresentation. As for your lawyer, it depends what information he was given. If he was told the work had been.done and didn't make enquiries to see if the consents were in place or report to you that they weren't then he might be negligent. You should speak to another solicitor to discuss your options.
Many thanks, I will seek advice from a second legal source. I was told that PP would have been required for the log burner so the fact that it wasn't does make life easier.
Thank you again