Selling at auction
Instructing HSR Law in advance of the auction date would allow us to take a look at the title and potentially resolve any title issues such as removal of notices and restrictions. HSR Law will also prepare the legal pack for you which would contain searches, any planning permissions and any special conditions that you may wish to add. An example of a special condition could be a requirement for the successful purchaser to bear your legals costs.
Buying at auction
If you are looking to buy a property at auction, we strongly advise that you contact HSR Law in advance to review the property’s auction pack. There may be title defects or other issues with the title that could lead us to advising you not to go ahead with the auction purchase. This is very important as once the “hammer falls” it is then too late as you are then committed to purchase the property.
You must also ensure you have the correct finance in place. If you are successful with your bid, you are legally committed to buy the property within a timescale set in the contract. This is usually around 28 days after the auction; however, can be sometimes less than this. If your finance is not in place this would complicate matters and could result in you being in breach of contract, which could see you losing the property and also the deposit paid.
Once the finance is in order HSR Law will continue the process of purchasing the property for you and take the matter through to the completion date. We will then deal with the Land Registry, SDLT and Companies house (if any) registration for you.
Why chose HSR Law?
HSR Law have a team with the special expertise that are required to help you should you decide to sale or purchase at Auction.
We are CQS Accredited
The Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation demonstrates that HSR Law Solicitors can provide residential conveyancing advice of the level expected by clients, lenders and the wider residential conveyancing community.
Being CQS accredited means we have the expertise to deliver quality residential conveyancing advice and use standardised processes to manage and reduce risks.
Your Auction Team
Property FAQs
Exchange means that your contract to purchase is now legally binding. If you withdraw from the sale, you will lose the deposit you paid. On exchange you also set the date for completion.
No, your Lenders grant the mortgage but they ask us to confirm that the valuation has no errors and that there are no issues with the property that they should be informed of. It is our job to ensure that both you and your Lender are happy to proceed.
Someone over 18 has to witness your documents and no one that is related to you
The ISA can only be used as part of completion funds to pay the balance of the property. It cannot be used as the deposit. Your buyer’s solicitor may agree to accept a lower deposit on exchange. Your solicitors can charge £50 plus VAT for applying for this for you.
If you are a cash buyer this is your choice, but HSR Law would always advise that you do obtain searches . If you are purchasing with the aid of a mortgage, this is mandatory. The main searches are as follows:
Local Authority
A local authority search will provide you with detailed information about your property and the surrounding areas including planning entries and road adoptions. This will give you peace of mind before going ahead with the purchase of your new home and ensure you avoid any surprises in the future
Water and Drainage
A water and drainage search will confirm the proximity of the property to public sewers, whether the property has a sewer running within the boundaries of the property and if the property is connected to mains services.
Environmental search
An environmental search would confirm whether the previous land use of the property creates a potential environmental risk. This search will highlight issues which would include:
Landslides
Subsidence
Contaminated land such as historic landfills and waste sites
The risk of flooding from nearby rivers or seas
Mining search
A mining search is required if the property is situated in an area of previous or current mining history and is at risk of being built on unstable ground.
If you hold the property as joint tenants, both of you will own the whole of the property. You will not each have a quantified share in the property and will not be able to leave a share of the property in your will. If you sell the property, or if you separate, it will be presumed that you both own the property equally.
If you hold the property as tenants in common, each of you will own a specified share in the property. For example, one owner could own 70% of the property while the other holds 30%. The percentage shares are commonly used to reflect the amount of money contributed.
If you buy a property freehold, it means you completely own the property and the land it sits on
When you buy a property that is leasehold, you own it for a set length of time, which is the term of the lease.
Click here to read our Freehold vs Leasehold factsheet.