Back in the game... a couple of questions from a FTB

helping_hubby

Hello,

I don't know if anyone will remember me. We had a horrible time in 2007 trying to buy our first home and after 6 months it all fell through due to problems caused by the people at the end of the chain.

We've just had an offer accepted on a house Last night we got our mortgage in principal sorted with Nationwide. So, so far things are running smoothly (and it's just the 2 of us in the chain).

My mum keeps going on about finding out if there are debts on the house we're buying. I'm not really sure what she means. She seems to think that if the person was selling because of money problems that we might have to deal with debt collectors or something. Does this make sense to anyone? And can anyone explain to me the issue?

We don't actually know the reason why the seller is selling. Just that they are keen to sell and go into rented.

I have a couple more questions, but don't like to ask because it puts the mockers on things thinking too far ahead…but I'm going to ask anyway.
* How would one go about applying for a dropped curb? Is that through the council?
* There are some rather tall conifer trees in the front garden, which don't personally bother me, but hubby would rather get rid. Do we need to get some sort of permission to remove this?

Thanks.

Markyt

If there are debts, you might get post and visits from collectors. These should stop once you tell them the person is no longer there.

Trees - you need to see if the trees are subject to any sort of preservation order. your local council might have the details about what you can / can't do with them.

Curb - i think this is through the council too. If they have a decent website the process will be on there.

poppysarah

Dropped kerb = council. Expect to be stung for a fee for them to say yes or no. And then anything from £300- £2000 for the work. Depends on the council.

Conifers = chop them down no probs. Almost certainly no TPO else your solicitor would have mentioned it.

Previous residents debt.
1. Return all mail unopened with "not known at this address" on and just stick it in the box. No need to add stamps.
2. Get registered for council tax ASAP
3. Keep something handy to show any muppet bailiffs who think you're the previous residents. Photo ID and proof of you living there (Someone has suggested something previously but can't think what it was - not sure if something legally specific for this)
4. Don't let the !!!!!!s in if bailiffs turn up. Ring police if they turn up and won't go away.
5. Get a credit check thing done (experian and equifax) and make sure nothing gets attached to your names after you've moved in.
6. Photo your meter readings as evidence of you taking over property (Prob need a paper with date on in pic too)
7. Make sure you register all services in your name.
8. Don't worry about it too much.

helping_hubby

Excellent. Thank you so much for the quick replies. You've pretty much confirmed my common sense thoughts. Photos of the meters is a very good idea.

Um, what does TPO stand for?

barnaby-bear

helping_hubby wrote: »

Hello,

I don't know if anyone will remember me. We had a horrible time in 2007 trying to buy our first home and after 6 months it all fell through due to problems caused by the people at the end of the chain.

We've just had an offer accepted on a house Last night we got our mortgage in principal sorted with Nationwide. So, so far things are running smoothly (and it's just the 2 of us in the chain).

My mum keeps going on about finding out if there are debts on the house we're buying. I'm not really sure what she means. She seems to think that if the person was selling because of money problems that we might have to deal with debt collectors or something. Does this make sense to anyone? And can anyone explain to me the issue?

We don't actually know the reason why the seller is selling. Just that they are keen to sell and go into rented.

I have a couple more questions, but don't like to ask because it puts the mockers on things thinking too far ahead…but I'm going to ask anyway.
* How would one go about applying for a dropped curb? Is that through the council?
* There are some rather tall conifer trees in the front garden, which don't personally bother me, but hubby would rather get rid. Do we need to get some sort of permission to remove this?

Thanks.

She may mean charges registered against the property like the mortgage is. Lenders can secure loans or credit card debts against the property meaning if these and mortgage owed exceed sale value the lenders can block the sale until paid off and charging orders against the property cna delay the sale or scupper it. You can find these out for 3 GDP by getting the property docs. off the land registry where lenders register their interest in the proceeds of the sale.

Your solicitor will run checks for charges etc at vaiours stages plus register your interest to prevent further ones being added at some point but i fyou find out the situation early on your mum may be suggesting you avoid solicitors fees if the house is essentially in negative equity and the sale likely to be tricky.

poppysarah

helping_hubby wrote: »

Um, what does TPO stand for?

Tree preservation order.

geoffky

THEY might be selling and getting in rented because they reckon they can make a pile of money with the house price crash .ie str .they reckon when they can come back into the market the house they sold will be worth a lot less..lots of people are doing it.

minigirl

You can look at the property register before you buy but this will only tell you how many charges are on the property and not how much is owed on each charge.

One of the first things the solicitor will check is how many charges there are on the property and they will then ask the seller's solicitors to give an 'undertaking' on completion that all the charges will be paid off and taken off the register. The undertaking means that the seller's solicitors is then legally bound to pay off and remove the charges at whatever cost therefore the solicitor will only give this undertaking once they have redemption statements from each mortgage company that has a charge so they know they have enough equity in the house to pay them off. If the property is in negative equity however the solicitor will check with the seller that they have enough money to pay off the balance and the solicitor will require to hold this on completion in order to pay off the charges.

One of the first things the seller's solicitor will do is to obtain redemption statements from each mortgage company so they should be aware within the first couple of weeks as to whether the seller is in negative equity.

With regard to getting visits from bailiffs etc after completion, I have heard about this on occasion in which case I would follow poppysarah's points.

With regard to the kerb and trees - Council for the kerb and it should appear on the Local Search which your solicitor will do as to whether there is a TPO on the property.

Hope this helps and I haven't gone on too much

Dinah93

Other thing to be aware of regarding the trees:

If your property is in a designated conservation area you automatically need permission to fell any tree over 1metre. This wouldn't be picked up by a solicitors search. It is rare to put a TPO on a tree within a conservation area as they are already covered by other legislation

helping_hubby

Dinah93 wrote: »

Other thing to be aware of regarding the trees:

If your property is in a designated conservation area you automatically need permission to fell any tree over 1metre. This wouldn't be picked up by a solicitors search. It is rare to put a TPO on a tree within a conservation area as they are already covered by other legislation

I don't think it's in a conservation area, but how would I know for sure?

minigirl

The Council should be able to tell you