Summer Newsletter - WHAT IS CONVEYANCING?
As solicitors we are often asked "what exactly does conveyancing mean?"
In essence "title", (your ownership if the land and including the rights and restrictions relating to it) has to pass on a sale and purchase from the seller to the buyer. That title is "conveyed" from the seller to buyer and those of us who specialise in property transactions refer to this process as “conveyancing” and the specialists as “conveyancers”.
In 1990, it became compulsory for all land to be registered when it next changed ownership, which should make the life of a seller's solicitor a lot easier when being asked to show their client's title to a buyer. All the solicitor needs to do is speak to the friendly people at Her Majesty's Land Registry and they would provide a piece of paper telling them the seller had title to the land! Easy, or so you may assume!
Even today some land remains unregistered and in that instance the Land Registry has nothing to supply. Other difficulties may occur for someone living next to an area of land that is unregistered.
As conveyancers for unregistered land we have to first consider what may be a mountain of old papers concerning the land in question (assuming they are not lost in which case see earlier article) to demonstrate good title to your seller and deal with your conveyancing. On completion the land will be registered which makes, as intended, an easier conveyancing process for all.
If you are buying or selling your do contact our residential Conveyancing team Ros Sanderson or Anjam Beg on 0118 9842266