Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 solicitors, along with other professionals, are under a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure that their firms’ client accounts are not used by criminals for the purpose of laundering money earned through illegal activities.
Understanding Money Laundering Requirements in Conveyancing Transactions
July 18th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Legal, Property Conveyancing, Property Market 5 Comments »
How will going Bankrupt affect my Home?
June 19th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Financial Products, Legal, Property Conveyancing 4 Comments »
Bankruptcy is a frightening process; especially when there is a risk you might lose your home. It is difficult to get good advice. Your creditors are naturally looking for the options which will allow them to recover the maximum debt and you are unlikely to have money to pay for independent professional advice.
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Leasehold Property Classes – Good Leasehold
April 4th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Legal, Property Conveyancing Comments Off on Leasehold Property Classes – Good Leasehold
When buying a property which is leasehold, it will be registered with one of two classes of title – absolute leasehold or good leasehold. Ideally you will want the property to have absolute title however in the event that it is good leasehold this needn’t be a deal breaker. You may be able to insure against the risks which it presents or you may be able to upgrade to absolute title.
Reduction in Lawyers Able to Do Conveyancing Effects Consumers
March 19th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Legal, Property Conveyancing Comments Off on Reduction in Lawyers Able to Do Conveyancing Effects Consumers
In a conveyancing transaction, a conveyancer will generally act for both the lender and the purchaser. This is permitted because the lender and buyer have a common interest, to proceed to completion as quickly as possible whilst ensuring the title to the property represents satisfactory security for the mortgage advance/purchase price.
Beware Contracts Race when Buying Property
March 12th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Legal, Property Conveyancing 3 Comments »
The process of buying a house (or flat), or more specifically buying land, is unlike the process of buying any other item. When it comes to any other item, even a very expensive one, the process is extremely straightforward. Seller and buyer agree a price and once agreement is reached a contract is created, which is legally binding and can be enforced through the courts if necessary.
Development issues a Village Green presents
November 21st, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Legal, Property Developers 2 Comments »
A “Village Green” is an area of open land on which “a significant number of the inhabitants of any locality… have indulged as a right in lawful sports and pastimes on the land for a period of at least 20 years”. In order to protect a right to continue using an area of land for those purposes it must be registered under the Commons Act 2006. Once registered, the land must remain open and cannot be developed.
Process of Getting a Conveyancing Quote
October 24th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Legal, Property Conveyancing 2 Comments »
If you are buying or selling a property then, unless you are planning to do your own conveyancing, you’ll need to instruct a conveyancer (i.e. a solicitor or licensed conveyancer) to represent you. So with thousands of law firms out there to choose from, how do you go about getting a conveyancing quote? First you need to decide what you’re looking for. Do you want a local firm, whose offices you can visit, or would you rather do everything by phone, post and email?
Acquiring the Freehold of a Leasehold House
October 13th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Landlords, Legal Comments Off on Acquiring the Freehold of a Leasehold House
Most houses in England and Wales are freehold. This means that the owner has a right to remain on the land and in the house in perpetuity (forever) or until he sells or transfers it, at which point the new owner takes over the right. Although technically the land (and therefore the house) actually belongs to the Crown, for all practical purposes it is owned by the home owner. There are some houses however that rather than being freehold are let on long leases. These are known as leasehold houses.
What You Need to Know About Conveyancing Contracts
September 27th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Legal, Property Conveyancing 2 Comments »
The conveyancing contract (sometimes referred to as the agreement) is a document which contains all of the terms and conditions to which a conveyancing transaction is subject. Once contracts are exchanged those terms become legally binding on all parties.
Confusion clouds landscape for consumers legal services
July 18th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Legal Comments Off on Confusion clouds landscape for consumers legal services
The confused system of regulation for legal services risks leaving consumers without protection when things go wrong, the new Legal Ombudsman warns today. Against a backdrop of a rapidly changing legal landscape, there are particular difficulties in areas such as claims management and will-writing companies, he says.
What Can I Do About My Neighbour’s Nuisance Tree?
June 29th, 2011 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Land Registry, Legal, Local Authority Searches 2 Comments »
Trees can be wonderful though they can also be a terrible nuisance in gardens, particularly small gardens and particularly if they are allowed to grow too large. If your enjoyment of your property is adversely affected by a tree belonging to a neighbour, is there anything you can do?
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