We thought you might be interested in finding out exactly what we, as your solicitors, actually do for you during the purchase.
These are the typical steps involved in a normal purchase transaction, although every individual case differs:-
- We contact the Housing Association on your behalf to get things moving;
- We carry out a Local Authority Search on the property to check the property has correct planning permission, the roads are adopted, etc;
- We check the contract Lease and title papers when these are received from the Housing Association;
- We let you have a detailed ‘plain English’ report on the Lease and your obligations towards the Housing Association;
- We raise any necessary legal enquiries on the paperwork with the Housing Association;
- We read your mortgage offer and check there are no conditions on the offer which may cause problems;
- In all shared ownership cases, we need to send a copy of your mortgage offer to the Housing Association;
- The Housing Association needs to send us their written approval of your mortgage offer;
- We send to you a full, easy to understand, plain English report on your mortgage, searches and any other relevant matters relating to your purchase;
- We advise you on the options for payment of Stamp Duty (if any);
- You sign the contract and Stamp Duty forms;
- We exchange contacts and fix a date for completion;
- You sign the final Lease and mortgage documents which we prepare on your behalf;
- We provide you with a detailed financial statement showing all financial dealings involved in your purchase;
- Your purchase is completed and you move in;
- We register your title at the Land Registry;
- We forward a copy of the new Land Registry title documents to you and to your mortgage company as proof of your ownership.