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Conveyancing

Your home is probably your most expensive asset and whatever the prevailing economic climate, planning a move is a stressful event. Our friendly and efficient team of residential conveyancers will ensure your transaction runs smoothly and quickly.

One of our greatest strengths is our local knowledge; between them, our conveyancing team not only know the area and the market intimately but are also well experienced in investigating particular Cornish property issues such as the mining legacy, flood risks and mooring rights.

We can help with all legal aspects of buying and selling your home. Our longstanding relationships with local estate agents, valuers and surveyors enable us to speed the process along efficiently. Using the latest conveyancing software, we can record, track and manage every stage of your transaction – quickly identifying and dealing with any potential problems.

Your case will, as far as possible, be handled by one person from start to finish who will be available by direct telephone line, fax or email to discuss progress. Timescales vary significantly from case to case based on numerous factors. A sale, purchase or remortgage is unlikely to take less than six weeks from the initial instruction to completion and may take considerably longer. We will be able to give you a better estimate of timescales once we have assessed the complexity of the transaction involved and any external factors.

We provide a complete conveyancing service and will, of course, provide you with a detailed written estimate of the legal fees and disbursements that will relate to your transaction within the Client Engagement Letter and in our Terms & Conditions of Business at the outset of the transaction. Whilst all legal fees are in part dependent on the complexity of the transaction we now provide an outline of the minimum legal fees and disbursements that we will charge.

While acting for you in the sale of your property, we will carry out the following work:

  • Receiving the title deeds of the property from you or your mortgagee, and checking them and any other relevant papers.
  • Obtaining HM Land Registry official copies and checking them.
  • Sending you a standard Property Information Form (and Leasehold Information Form if the transaction is leasehold) and a checklist of Fixtures and Fittings for completion and return. Sending the completed forms to your Buyer’s solicitors.  You will need to provide relevant documents such as guarantees for double glazing, woodworm treatment, etc.
  • Preparing draft Contract and agreeing this with the Buyer’s solicitors.
  • All related correspondence and telephone calls, faxes and emails.
  • Meeting with you to confirm instructions for exchange and completing and arranging for exchange of Contracts.
  • Agreeing the form of the Transfer of ownership of the property.
  • Completing the sale of the property, by receiving the sale money via the banking system. Arranging for the release of the keys on receipt of the monies.
  • (If appropriate) paying off your mortgage and obtaining a receipt to send to the Buyer’s solicitors.
  • Preparing a statement of account (a Completion Statement) and sending you any monies due if not applied to a purchase.
  • On the sale of a leasehold flat, obtaining up to date information direct from the Landlord or Management Company about the Service Charges, need for repairs to the building, etc. if this is not available from the Seller’s solicitors.

We would ordinarily expect your sale to take between 6-12 weeks to complete although the actual time taken will depend upon external factors such as the number of properties in a chain.

While acting for you in the purchase of your property, we will carry out the following work:

  • Receiving and checking through the title deeds and considering all the information on the Property Information Form and the draft Contract sent by the Seller’s solicitors
  • Agreeing the form of Contract
  • Making the local authority, water and drainage, environmental, mining, chancel and HM Land Registry searches and checking all of the replies
  • Considering your mortgage offer (if any) and acting on behalf of your lender. This will involve a checklist of their requirements about the title and the property
  • All the related correspondence and telephone calls, faxes and emails
  • The preparation of a Property Report on the Title and search results relating to the property incorporating the information received; confirming your instructions for exchange of Contracts and completion, and arranging for exchange of Contracts
  • Preparing the transfer document to transfer ownership of the property and agreeing it with the Seller’s solicitors
  • Arranging for mortgage funds to be available for completion. This involves reporting to the lender and checking all the special requirements for you;
  • Preparing a statement of account (a Completion Statement), advising you as to the amount of monies needed from you to complete the matter and receiving the same
  • Completing the purchase by sending the purchase funds to the Seller’s solicitors via the bank on the completion date, and then paying the Stamp Duty Land Tax and registering the transaction at the Land Registry (although it will be your responsibility to advise us as to the exact amount of Stamp Duty Land Tax liability relating to your purchase, which will be relative to your individual circumstances, and you may wish to seek the advice of your accountant first as well as speaking with HM Revenue & Customs to determine this)
  • Dealing with the title deeds in accordance with the lender’s instructions or, in the absence of a mortgage, as you direct
  • On the purchase of a leasehold flat obtaining up to date information direct from the landlord or management company about the service charges, need for repairs to the buildings, etc (if this is not available from the Seller’s solicitors)

We would ordinarily expect your purchase to take between 6-12 weeks to complete although the actual time taken will depend upon external factors such as the number of properties in a chain.

Lawsoc logo

On the 19th July 2011, Hine Downing was accredited under the new Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS).  We were the seventh firm in Cornwall to be accredited.

CQS is designed to provide clients with reassurance about their solicitor’s integrity, practice standards and professionalism.  Complying with CQS will help Hine Downing provide a more effective service for our clients.

Peter Stonehouse

Peter Stonehouse

Practising Consultant

Peter is a highly-skilled solicitor with a detailed understanding of the local residential property market and a broad experience in handling transactions of all sizes. He is also a strong advocate of information technology, keeping the firm at the forefront of developments which complement and support Hine Downing’s traditional personal service.
Department
Conveyancing
Louise Eslick

Louise Eslick

Chartered Legal Executive

Louise is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (FILEX) and brings to the Conveyancing team a 30-year-strong track record in residential legal work across Cornwall. She handles all aspects of residential property transactions, including sales, purchases, remortgaging and the transfer of properties as part of matrimonial proceedings.
Department
Conveyancing
Donna Dickinson

Donna Dickinson

Conveyancing Executive

Donna has been supporting Hine Downing’s Conveyancing team for fifteen years and has trained and worked her way through from legal secretary to Paralegal to Conveyancing Executive. Knowing all aspects of the work from grassroots up she is involved in sales, purchases and remortgages as well as transfers of property as part of the administration of Estates.
Department
Conveyancing
Kim Wadham-Smith

Kim Wadham-Smith

Solicitor

Kim specialises in commercial and residential property transactions. She advises on a range of issues including property sales, purchases, re-mortgaging and property advice in connection with the administration of estates or matrimonial proceedings.
Department
Commercial Law | Conveyancing
John Rutherford

John Rutherford

Solicitor

John has been dealing with property transactions for over 25 years.

He handles all aspects of residential property transactions, including sales, purchases, remortgaging and equity release loans. He also handles development site acquisition and disposal transactions.
Department
Conveyancing
Diana Standen

Diana Standen

Partner and Head of Residential

Diana is a commercial and residential property specialist working within the Commercial and Residential team to meet the growing demand for property services. She has over 20 years of experience in this area of law – covering all facets of commercial and residential property from acquisitions and disposals to landlord and tenant and property development. Diana practised in London and Exeter before returning to Cornwall.
Department
Commercial Law

Testimonials

‘Receptionists charming.’

‘Easy to get to.’

‘Stay the way you are.’

‘The service was excellent and the outcome fair.’

‘The service from Peter was absolutely first class and the best we have ever encountered.’

‘I have used your services may times before and joined with the merger from Reginald Rogers.’

Various

Dispute resolution

We are pleased to offer a free half-hour initial appointment for all civil dispute and employment matters.  In the appointment you can expect to receive basic information to help you decide whether to take matters further.  You will not receive legal advice tailored to your particular problem.

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Family law

Family law is a complex and sensitive area. Over the years, our trusted family law experts have helped many families to resolve issues involving the home, finances and the care of children. They have also earned a reputation for a sensitive and understanding approach when dealing with clients involved in emotional and stressful situations.

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Commercial law

What appears to be a good deal today may be a lost opportunity tomorrow – or revealed to be a less attractive investment. Whatever the age or size of your business venture, good legal advice is a vital part of the decision-making process. It can save you time, money and stress – and help your business thrive.

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Conveyancing

Your home is probably your most expensive asset and whatever the prevailing economic climate, planning a move is a stressful event. Our friendly and efficient team of residential conveyancers will ensure your transaction runs smoothly and quickly.

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Probate, Wills & Trusts

Our Private Client Department combines a wealth of experience in dealing with Probate and the administration of Estates; from straightforward standard Estates, to high net worth and complex Estates, where expertise, judgement and efficiency are paramount.

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