Selling a house in Scotland but now living in Canada

jem16

Just wondered if anyone knew the procedure of selling a house in Scotland but currently living in Canada.

My son moved to Canada about 18 months ago and is currently letting out his UK house. Now that he and his wife have been granted Permanent Resident status, they will be selling their UK house in the next 6 months or so, so that they can buy a home in Canada.

What he was wondering is how the process will work from a point of view of engaging solicitors and signing any necessary papers. He would be quite happy for me to act on his behalf if necessary but we don't know what the legalities are on this.

Can anyone point us in the right direction please?

googler

Speak to a Scottish solicitor in the area that he's looking to sell in - one who routinely handles property sales, and ask about getting Power of Attorney so that you can act on his behalf.

jem16

googler wrote: »

Speak to a Scottish solicitor in the area that he's looking to sell in - one who routinely handles property sales, and ask about getting Power of Attorney so that you can act on his behalf.

Thank you. I will enquire at the Solicitors who handled his conveyancing when he bought the house.

However POA is not cheap as far as I'm aware and seemed a little over the top for this but perhaps that's what we need.

agrinnall

Or I'm sure he'd be able to arrange to sign documents at a solicitor in Canada - I did the reverse, selling a house in New Zealand while living in Scotland, and although it took a bit longer there was no problem doing it.

googler

jem16 wrote: »

However POA is not cheap as far as I'm aware and seemed a little over the top for this but perhaps that's what we need.

Selling a house is regarded as the biggest financial transaction in most folks' lives. For what would you regard PoA as NOT being 'over the top' ...?

davidmcn

jem16 wrote: »

However POA is not cheap as far as I'm aware and seemed a little over the top for this but perhaps that's what we need.

It should be cheap and straightforward - it doesn't need to be as involved as a Continuing Power of Attorney.

Pixie5740

If your son hasn't done so already he should serve his tenants notice as it will be difficult to sell a property without vacant possession.

jem16

agrinnall wrote: »

Or I'm sure he'd be able to arrange to sign documents at a solicitor in Canada - I did the reverse, selling a house in New Zealand while living in Scotland, and although it took a bit longer there was no problem doing it.

Thanks. I shall ask him to check out that possibility.

jem16

googler wrote: »

Selling a house is regarded as the biggest financial transaction in most folks' lives. For what would you regard PoA as NOT being 'over the top' ...?

My understanding of POA was that it would include the authority to act on someone's behalf in all of their financial matters.

He obviously doesn't need or want me to do that or even to make the decisions on the house sale. It was only to make signing documents easier.

However if POA is what is needed then that is what we will look into or indeed using a Canadian lawyer as has been suggested.

I_have_spoken

I will enquire at the Solicitors who handled his conveyancing when he bought the house

Sounds like a plan as they should have on file the documents needed to satisfy themselves about identity etc. to act on his behalf.

If anything needed an ink signature, any of the big couriers could get documents to and fro in a few days.