How to stop a fraudster from making themselves at home – the fake ‘sister’ who tried to sell Marie’s house.

Did you hear about the recent story of the Reverend who came home to find his entire house had been stolen?

You may not think this can happen to you, but the Land Registry confirms that around £3.5m was paid out to victims of similar crimes.

Here at Versus Law Solicitors we had a similar matter, but thanks to our eagle-eyed conveyancers in Manchester, the fraudsters were out of luck in this attempt to steal someone’s home! Throughout the fraud, the real homeowner, who we will call Marie, was totally unaware that a fraudster was trying to sell her house behind her back.

The story was covered by BBC News and was featured on Radio 4’s ‘You and Yours’ programme. Investigative Journalist Shari Vahl should be commended for her work in highlighting this transaction, and in particular the Office of Public Guardianship’s lack of checking procedures when a Lasting Power of Attorney is issued. The article and the radio programme can be found here:

BBC News Story

BBC Radio 4’s ‘You and Yours’ Programme

In this blog, we will tell you what tactics the fraudsters used, how the scam was spotted, then prevented; and give you tips on how you can protect yourself and your property from similar scams. Our homes are our most valued possessions and should be protected.

Setting the scene

Versus Law Solicitors were instructed by a person claiming to be called Julie in March 2021 to sell the property.
The fraudster pretended to be Homeowner’s sister and presented us with a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allegedly given to her by her ‘sister’, Marie, giving her full authority to sell the house in her ‘sister’s’ name.
The fraudster then provided her own ID and the LPA to us and signed relevant documentation.

This is a normal start to selling a property, however, it was noted when setting up the file that a vulnerable person could be involved as an LPA had been presented by the fraudster. As such, the matter was escalated to a senior staff member for consideration. Whenever we spoke to the fraudster, we were concerned by her demeanor and what she was saying. She told us that her sister was not well and that is why the LPA was entered into. We asked for her ‘sister’s’ ID and confirmation that she lacked capacity. This evidence was never provided.

When the buyer’s (fraudster) solicitor came on record it was also noted that a company was buying the property, not an individual, whilst this can be a normal occurrence, when combined with the LPA it made this an unusual conveyancing sale.

Our Investigations and concerns

In the middle of April 2021, the Fraudster was again asked for the Homeowner’s ID and their consent, as these had not been provided yet.

The fraudster rang and queried these requests, saying she had not been asked to provide these before. This suggests that she may have tried a similar scan previously. She was informed that ID was mandatory; and that Marie still needs to give verbal or written consent to the sale as we did not know that she lacked capacity.

This was flagged up by 2 senior conveyancers in our property department. A request for ID and confirmation of capacity should have been easy to comply with if the LPA was valid and was clearly being avoided by the fraudster.

The fraudster waited a couple of days and then called in again saying that her ‘sister’ was not sound of mind and could not give consent. She was using every excuse she could to avoid providing the requested documents, hoping we would let it slide and proceed with the transaction.

At this point due to our previous concerns, the way the Fraudster had been evasive and after discussion with the Managing Partner of the Firm, Waqas Chaudhri, further investigations were carried out and all work on the file was put on immediate hold.

The LPA appeared to have been drafted/signed/witnessed by the same person all the way through – the witnesses and Marie’s signature appeared to have been done by the same hand.
The veracity of the LPA could not be checked online.
Searches found that the names listed in the LPA did not match up to any of the neighbours who were listed as witnesses.
The buying company’s main address seemed to be just a correspondence address and not offices.

These factors, together with our growing list of concerns, the decision was made to only work on this matter once contact with the homeowner had been made. For the matter to be placed on the risk register of the company so that it can managed and monitored to the upmost of detail by a senior member of the firm.

Enquiries were made to ascertain the real owners’ details so that contact could be made and Marie was advised that the fraudsters were trying to sell her home. We requested that the management company send the management pack directly to the homeowner. As her managing agents, they would have her direct contact details and email, etc, meaning she would be notified.

Shortly after Versus Law did this, the Fraudster rang to say they were no longer instructing us and requested the management pack be sent directly to the address (this is because they had already gained illegal access to the property, something we found out later).

Red Flags spotted by Versus Law

During the attempted transaction by the fraudster, we spotted the following potential red flags.

Selling an unencumbered property (no mortgage)
Legal Power of Attorney being used, fraudster applied for LPA themselves
The LPA was suspect, similar handwriting, could not be checked and the witnesses looked fictitious
Transactional distance
Property being bought by a Company
The property was owned but not lived in currently by the owner
Buyers’ estate agent was 100 miles from buyer and property
The fraudster did not provide ID, consent, or any correspondence from the homeowner
Could not provide medical evidence that the homeowner was no longer of sound mind
The buyer offered to pay the seller’s legal fees
Wanted proceeds to go into a bank account other than the homeowner’s

Whilst there may be a valid reason for these in most transactions, we were not convinced by the fraudster’s explanations and the lack of evidence in support.

What happened next?

The homeowner contacted Versus Law once they had received the homeowners pack, they were in quite a shock as it was the first they had heard of anything. Imagine finding out that a fraudster had tried to sell your house behind your back!

Marie told us that she went to check on the property to find that the locks on the house had been drilled out and changed by the fraudster! This allowed them to access the property as if they were the homeowner on any visits, and for the interception of any mail being sent to the property (which is why the fraudster asked us to send the management pack directly to the property).

Versus Law told Marie exactly what had happened so far and continues to assist her in bringing the fraudster to justice.

Reporter, Shari Vahl, came in to speak with us and has taken up an investigation into this matter and discussed it and a similar fraud that happened on her weekly show, You& Yours, on BBC Radio 4. The investigation was also covered by BBC News.

A message from Marie:

“Just a quick email to say a big “Thank You” for taking part in the Radio 4 You&Yours programme. It’s great to read that you’ll be publishing a blog on this, too, as my main reason for contacting the BBC was to raise awareness among the legal and financial communities of the need to be cautious about taking the LPA document at face value – and hopefully prompt discussion about what needs to change. While trying to find help, I contacted lots of law firms: not one of them had a clue that this document could be forged, and each of them initially expressed disbelief. ”

How you can protect yourself?

This scam mainly involves properties that do not have an outstanding mortgage against them. This removes an extra financial layer to the scam and could easily mean the correct owner is contacted.

The quickest and most important thing that every homeowner should do is sign up to a free Land registry service called Property Alerts. You will receive an email that would alert you at the first instance any action is taken in relation to your property. In our view, whilst this is a good first step, you may be alerted when it is too late to act ie. After the property has been sold. The emails may also go into your junk folder, which may not be checked until it is too late.

A better option is to place an anti-fraud restriction on your home so that if a transfer is attempted, you will be contacted and can ensure it is legitimate before it happens. This service costs £40 but will secure your position much more. It is still not 100% effective though. For example, if a fraudster got hold of your ID, or replicated your ID, then they could pretend to be you and apply to remove the restriction when selling your home.

The best option, in our opinion, would be for a solicitor or conveyancer to be required to remove the restriction. This can be your own solicitor, so you can be assured that your property is sold only if you want it to be.

You can find out more from HM Land Registry’s website using the following link:

Protect your land and property from fraud – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We are always here to help, and if you have any questions regarding placing a restriction on your home or any other property related matter, please contact us.

Versus Law Solicitors
10 Lapwing Lane
Didsbury
Manchester
M20 2WS
info@versuslaw.co.uk

0161 249 5087

www.versuslaw.co.uk

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What are Conveyancing Fees?

What are conveyancing Fees?

They are a group of legal costs you will pay when buying or selling a house. They cover the cost of exchanging contracts, and carrying out all the steps needed to complete your purchase or sale.

They are the basic fee that you pay the conveyancer for their actual work. This figure can vary based on all sorts of different factors, from the location of the firm to how complicated the transaction is.

Fees can include:

ID Checks
Searches
Land Registry Checks
Leasehold Fees
Gifted Deposit Checks

There are additional fees you may have to pay to the government such as stamp duty but these are not included in the conveyancing fees you have to pay to your conveyancing solicitor.

How much are conveyancing fees?

Conveyancing fees do vary but are typically between £550-£1500, plus the cost of disbursements. Legal fees for leasehold properties are slightly more. Legal costs depend on the circumstances of the transaction such as the cost of the property, whether its freehold or leasehold amongst others.

You can use our free conveyancing calculator.

https://www.versuslaw.co.uk/services/conveyancing/conveyancing-calculator/

Which will give you an accurate figure for you to work with and detail all the mandatory fees.

Are conveyancing fees negotiable?

Most conveyancers work on tight margins to but Versus Law will always try to price match if you have found a better offer elsewhere. Fees such as searches will be refunded if they are not fully spent. Depending on the location and property type some mortgage companies require additional searches to be performed.

Are conveyancing fees paid upfront?

Unlike other solicitors where you might have to pay an upfront deposit when you hire your conveyancer or solicitor, we only ask that you pay for your searches in advance.

You’ll then pay us the final amount once the sale of the house is completed.

If the sale falls through or the seller backs out, you might have to pay some or all of the conveyancing fees for legal work already completed.

Are conveyancing fees tax deductible?

Legal fees of this nature are added to the cost of acquisition and cost of sale when calculating taxable gains on the eventual disposal of a property.

Most conveyancing fees are not deductible from rental profits. Legal fees for the acquisition of a short lease are not tax deductible, whereas fees regarding the renewal of a short lease can be deducted from taxable profits.

Legal costs related to letting agreements can only be deducted from taxable profits where the tenancy is for one year or less. Legal fees relating to evicting a tenant are tax deductible.

How to reduce conveyancing fees

Your conveyancing solicitor does not have to be based in the same town that your property is. Conveyancing fees in London are upto twice as expensive as they are in Manchester yet a conveyancing solicitor in Manchester is able to perform conveyancing for properties nationwide.

Final Note

By understanding what’s involved with conveyancing fees, you can start preparing your budget and enjoy a smoother journey to your big moving day. Best of luck with your final steps! Need a conveyancing quote? Click here for a quote

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EP

Ashley is currently dealing with our sale and purchase and has been incredibly responsive and easy to get hold of. He also has great attention to detail, good customer service, and gives a lot of confidence that he understands what he is doing and knows how to get the best outcome for his clients. Very impressed with the service we have had so far! Thank you.

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How To Buy A House

Congratulations, you have finally found a house worth calling home and your offer has been accepted. But what comes next?

1. You need to choose an exceptional solicitor

With so many conveyancing firms out there it can feel overwhelming when trying to compare services and costs. At Versus Law, our service is unparalleled and our rates are competitive.

As an award-winning solicitor’s with more than 10 years’ experience, Versus Law Solicitors has the acuity and experience to help you in every area of residential conveyancing.

If you’re looking to buy a residential property, our residential conveyancing solicitors in Manchester will provide you with pioneering legal assistance to help you to navigate the, often, complex process of property law.

2. Instruct your solicitor and inform relevant parties

Once you have appointed your solicitor, they will send you paperwork to complete. We would recommend that you fill this in and return it as soon as you can. At Versus Law we are happy to talk you through this initial paperwork if needed, we can do this by email, over the phone or in person (Covid restrictions permitting).

Once you have chosen your solicitor, you should provide the estate agent and your mortgage broker/lender (if applicable) your solicitor’s details.

3. Produce your ID and proof of funds

Your solicitor will need to take copies of your ID and will also ask you for proof of how you intend to pay for the property i.e deposits, gifts, mortgage etc. It is best to disclose this information as soon as possible so that any issues or queries can be addressed promptly.

4. If you taking out a mortgage ensure your lender has everything they need.

If you have a mortgage broker, check with them that they have everything they need in order for your mortgage application to progress as quickly as possible.

5. Instruct a surveyor

It is completely up to you whether you have a survey, but a house is probably the most expensive and important purchase you will make so we recommend getting one done. There are a number of different surveys available and a good survey will provide you with a thorough report on the condition of the property and potentially help you to negotiate down your original offer if there are any major defects found.

6. Your solicitor will carry out searches and raise enquiries

Your solicitor will check the documentation received from the seller’s solicitor and will raise any necessary legal enquiries. Let your solicitor know if you notice anything out of the ordinary or want to raise anything.

Your solicitor will also carryout the legal searches in relation to several matters. This stage often takes some time especially if the information is not available straight away.

7. Exchange of contracts

Once enquiries have been completed, your mortgage off is ready (if applicable) and all the other parties are ready, contracts can be exchanged.

An exchange of contracts makes the transaction legally binding. If you change your mind after this point you are likely to incur a fine. You will also need to arrange buildings insurance as you will be legally bound to purchase the property.

8. Completion

This is the day when you get the keys to your new house. Your money is transferred to the seller’s solicitor and you become the legal owner of the property.

If you would like any further information or you would like to instruct Versus Law contact us today on 0845 555 0606 or email us at info@versuslaw.co.uk. If you prefer, you can complete our contact form here.

Our free conveyancing calculator allows you to get an accurate estimate of our legal fees and the additional costs you may encounter when buying or selling a property. Once you have generated your quote you can instruct us online, print it out, email it or give us a call to discuss it further.

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Why Choose Us

At Versus Law we believe in putting our client at the centre of what we do and place great importance on providing:

Providing A High Standard Of Service

We tailor our service to your requirements. You can choose the way you wish to communicate with us either by phone, email, or Whatsapp and whichever method you choose we will ensure that we work closely with you to achieve the best outcome. We have strict service standards which all our members of staff maintain with a view to exceeding our clients expectations.

Excellent Feedback

We pride ourselves on our service to our clients. We have over 100’s of 5 star reviews on Google and TrustPilot and other review websites.

Client satisfaction is a vital focus for our firm, and we are very proud of the fact that many of our clients rate our service as excellent, recommending us to their family and friends.

Offering Value For Money

With our no win no fee system you can be rest assured that we will handle your case efficiently. Work done on a no win no fee basis, means that we guarantee that in the event that your claim is unsuccessful you will not be charged for any work we have carried out on your behalf. We offer a free initial consultation to everyone who needs our advice, which will assist you in considering your options.

Honest and Clear Advice

We will always give our clients honest and straightforward advice.

At your initial consultation, you will speak with an experienced member of our team who will conduct a review of your circumstance and will advise you in very clear terms of where you stand in terms of achieving your goals.

We never give clients false hope and if we do not consider your case has good prospects of success we will tell you and we will not waste your time.

Our Team Approach

Our lawyers are all experts in their field. Many of our team trained with us, and those that did not were hand-picked due to their experience . We place great emphasis on the value of teamwork and enjoy working together to get the best results for our clients.

Available and Accessible

You can be assured that when you pick up the telephone you will know who you are speaking to and that that person will have good background knowledge of you or your business. If for any reason your usual contact is not available, there will always be someone to speak to who will assist with your enquiry.

Local To You

We are a well established conveyancing solicitors practice based in Didsbury Manchester, specialising in residential and commercial property conveyancing, litigation, personal injury, compensation claims, housing disrepair, flight delays and holiday sickness claims. Our service is second to none and we welcome you to get to know us. Click here to meet the team. With Covid restrictions still in place wherever you live we can be your local solicitor as the law in England is applied in the same way throughout the country. If you are truly local we welcome you to meet us in person (covid restrictions permitting).

Contact Us

At Versus Law, we’re proud to assist clients throughout Manchester – and across the UK – with our practiced litigation service. With an unsurpassed reputation, we can help you. To receive a FREE consultation, contact us today on 0845 555 0606 or email us at info@versuslaw.co.uk. If you prefer, you can complete our contact form here.

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Looking for a solicitor?

Searching for solicitors in the Manchester area? Wherever you see the name Versus Law, you can be sure you’ll get a friendly accessible lawyer, expert legal advice, and a refreshing level of customer service. We’re fast, efficient and prefer straight talking to legal jargon.

We have one primary motivator: to make sure that all civil disputes are resolved in a satisfactory manner. Respected across the Manchester region – and throughout the UK – for our tenacity and dedication to clients, we can help you resolve disputes arising from contractual disagreements, personal injury, medical negligence, contradictory landlord and tenant opinions and commercial disputes, to name but a few.

If you find yourself faced with civil litigation, it’s paramount that you seek a solicitor who can make sure that a solution is achieved. This is precisely what Versus Law can achieve for you.

Ethical and focused, we have successfully settled hundreds of civil litigation cases across a broad range of legal matters. Irrespective of your situation and the circumstances that have brought you to consider litigation as an option, our diligent solicitors in Manchester have the acumen and experience to help you.

We are highly rated on google reviews and Trust Pilot and we are here to support you. See a snippet of the excellent reviews left by our lovely clients.

Exceptional – I was recommended Versus Law by a family member and they did not disappoint. Nicola has been fantastic throughout the whole process of purchasing our first home. Nicola made us feel at ease and reassured when things got confusing and difficult. I have already recommended her and the firm to many of my friends. Thank you so much!!! – Alsyia Booth

Fast, efficient and impeccable service. The employees are professional and always willing to assist. I have used this firm for a number of years for various legal needs and have had my best interest at heart. – M Wasim

Great experience. Lovely professional staff. Very helpful. Recommended! – A Bashir

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Making A Successful Business Interruption Insurance Claim

For those businesses who did have business interruption insurance included as part of their policy most would or are naturally thinking of making a claim following the impact of the pandemic.

Although making a claim may seem straight forward many have struggled to get a pay out from their insurer. In this blog we would like to highlight things to do to make claiming easier and increase your chances of a positive outcome.

Tip One – Pay close attention to the wording of individual policies.

Paying attention to the detail within individual policies is essential. Our expert legal advisers based in Manchester can provide businesses with valuable support around analysing their policies and weigh up the chances of making a successful claim. One important factor to keep in mind is whether the policy classifies COVID-19 as a “notifiable disease”. Policies without this wording are more likely to lead to unsuccessful claim outcomes.

Tip Two – Gather information periodically

Once you have established that there are grounds to make a claim on your insurance it is important to start collecting the right supporting evidence. Insurance brokers and accountants can help to gather documents in relation to your finances and predictions in relation to ongoing profits/ losses and expenses. Ensure that you take account and keep a record of your finances at regular intervals so that if you decide to make a claim in the future your documents are already prepared and comprehensive.

Tip Three – Get familiar with your insurer’s claims process

When collating documents in relation to your claim the key is to provide the information that is required. It may seem tempting to give your insurer as much as possible to support your claim however this additional information will either be disregarded or may provide information to the insurer that will impact the outcome of your claim negatively.

Tip Four – Follow your insurance policy guidelines

Paying close attention to the correct formatting and timings provided as part of the claims process is also key – by adhering to the stated process to the letter, businesses can avoid becoming tripped up as claims move through the system.

If you have submitted a claim and it was rejected there are still a number of options which your businesses can take. If you feel your insurer has reached the wrong decision, you are part way through making a claim or just about to begin our expert team can help.

We have a team of specialist dispute resolution lawyers based in Manchester and can evaluate your policy and take legal action against your insurer if they are withholding payments that should be made.

We operate on a no win/no fee basis so you have nothing to lose. If we are successful, we will deduct an agreed percentage (up to but no more than 25%) from any damages recovered.

Fill out our form to sign up with us and start the process by clicking here.

Got more questions? Check out our FAQ’s on the link above or call us on 0161 249 5087.

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First Time Buyer Perks

Before discussing the perks of being a first time buyer let’s establish what one actually is. It is not always straightforward but generally you should meet the criteria set out below:

– You’ve never owned a home previously, either in the UK or abroad

– You only own, or have owned, a commercial property – such as a shop, restaurant, or salon that has no living space attached to it (such as a pub with upstairs accommodation).

– You’ve never owned a home previously, anywhere in the world, and are looking to purchase a buy-to-let home.

Buying your first home, conveyancing,

Buying your first home is exciting and worrying all at the same time especially amidst a pandemic. It may have taken a long time to save up the money for a deposit and factor in all the extra costs involved in relation to conveyancing, surveys and of course decoration but it’s not all a financial drain. Here are several reasons why being a first time buyer is not only a momentous achievement, it is an advantage.

No More Rent

Buying your first home means you will move from paying someone else’s mortgage to paying your own. Although in some ways this may be daunting if all goes well you will have something to show for the payments at the end.

The Better Buyer

As a first time buyer your offer on your dream home is likely to be more favourable to a seller given that the process is speedier. Once your offer has been accepted on a property, you’re ready to move in. There is no waiting around for your own home to sell and you don’t need to wait on anyone else on your side of the chain to get on with the process.

Money, Money, Money

From government schemes such as Help to Buy to exemptions in relation to Stamp Duty there are many ways in which buying a home can be significantly cheaper for a first time buyer.

Getting The Keys

If you have found your dream home and itching to move in get in touch with us. We are a law firm based in Manchester with more than 10 years’ experience as award-winning residential conveyancing solicitors. Our thorough residential conveyancing services include the following:

Full legal support when buying or selling a residential property, including Buy to Let and other investments
Handling or mortgage transfer
Equity Release Schemes
Legal guidance on Buy to Let Schemes
Legal guidance on Right to Buy Schemes
Shariah finance
Sound legal advice on lease and freehold properties
Buying or selling a property at auction
Purchasing a new build

Interested in learning more about why Versus Law has built a standout reputation as one of the most conscientious and trustworthy residential conveyancing solicitors in Manchester? Contact us today on 0161 249 5087 or email us at property@versuslaw.co.uk for your FREE consultation. If you prefer, you can complete our contact form here. For a free no obligation quote use our conveyancing calculator by clicking here.

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We have just completed on a buy and sell having used Versus Law for both sides of the transaction.
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Amazing bunch of people. There should be more firms providing this high level of service.
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Amazing law firm for conveyancing!! My wife and I made an offer on a house 24th September and we were moved in by 20th December. It should also be noted that we were selling my wife’s apartment at the same time (also using Versus), further complicating everything. Thanks to Natalie, everything was done in a very efficient manner and she was very understanding of our situation.
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The service and advise that we received from Versuslaw was exceptional. We had numerous issues with the house that we were buying and the team at Versus law guided us through the process whilst always looking out for our best interest.They were always prompt in responding to any question that we had and would update us on a regular basis. Thanks again to Nicola, Nick and Francine
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From the moment we rung Versus Law and spoke to the receptionist on the phone to the moment we completed on our first home, Versus Law were excellent. Our solicitor was Tom and not only did he keep us updated every step of the way but he was very professional, efficient, offered valuable advice and made the process of buying a house stress free. We couldn’t recommend Versus Law enough and we just wanted to say a huge thank you to Tom and the team. Joe and Kara
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Excellent service from start to finish from Nicola and Natalie! Super responsive to emails and all my questions as a first time single buyer. Natalie and Nicola make a great team and are so approachable. Definitely recommend them for property related legal services.
Frankie

Really happy with my experience using versus law, from start to finish they put my mind at ease as I wasn’t buying a house in the normal way, it was through a family divorce and there were time scales and dead lines to meet, versus law managed to conker my mortgage and speed things up to avoid any extra costs, nicola was always there to ease my mind when I had any concerns as things do get stressful whilst purchasing a property, the ladies on the reception we also a delight and couldn’t do more to make you feel comfortable in any situation, if you are thinking of using versus law to assist you through your mortgage then look no further as these guys couldn’t have done more for me, I couldn’t have been happier with my experience
Matt W

Nicola Nolan’s conveyancing service has always been excellent, I have used them several times in the last 5 years. In particular for my business I have found their relationship and understanding of Paragon Bank to be very useful. I would highly recommend.
Kay

Excellent decision to go with Versus Law! Nick Wintrip handled the very stressful job of our house sale with professionalism, calmness and a good sense of humour. We did everything via email, phone and post, and he was always quick in responding and keeping me updated every step of the way. Very competitively priced too. I would highly recommend Versus Law without the slightest hesitation.
O Li

Thomas Reid dealt with the sale and purchase of our properties. He was a pleasure to work with – very quick to respond to queries and very efficient in his work. As a result, the process went very smoothly with minimal delays. I would highly recommend competitively priced Versus Law and especially the professionalism of Thomas Reid.
Mr RS

Natalie Moylan dealt with the sale and purchase on my behalf. The whole process was very well handled with constant updates. The first solicitors I’ve used that’s responds within to an email within an hour! Would 100% use again!!!
Mrs LC

Recently dealt with Nick Wintrip at Versus law when selling my property. Found him to be professional, quick and thorough. Process went smoothly and I was well informed throughout the process. I received regular updates and all enquiries were dealt with efficiently. Nick made the whole process of selling my home stress free and a happy one! Your the best Nick – thank you again 🙂
Will highly recommend Versus Law Solicitors. They are the best
Jaxx

Would recommend Versus Law for conveyancing; Nick and Natalie we’re our team with Nick the main contact, thank you Nick and Natalie for making the conveyancing experience as stress free as possible.
Paula

Great experience working with Versus Law. Excellent level of professionalism from Thomas Reid who provided clear, precise information. Highly recommended from my side. Thanks to Tom and the team.
D

Fantastic experience with Natalie and her colleagues. Email updates throughout the home buying process, estimates of how long it would take to get her work completed and local knowledge which speeded up the process. 100% recommended.
R Napier

Really good and really helpful got things sorted alot quicker than anticipated very cooperative
Wetherill

What an outstanding team they turned my purchase around within the set time frame and very professional at all times.
They went above and beyond reassured myself throughout the process.
As being a first time buyer I felt this was most important I would recommend them highly.
Nasir

Versus Law dealt with my house sale from start to finish in a most professional manner. A friendly, professional, competent team who get the job done within the time parameters. I highly recommend this firm.
Colin and Yvonne

Absolutely brilliant service as always.
This is the third time using Versuslaw and they never fail to impress. Natalie and Nicola are real diamonds and you really get the sense that they actually care about you.

We actually live in London, but continued to use them for our London property because of our previous experience with them.
Thank you guys, would highly recommend you to anyone.
B Man

Excellent service!!! We are really happy with the service VersusLaw provided to us. Being first time buyer, we dint have much idea about the whole process and had lots of questions. They have given proper and clear response on time to everything we have requested. For us, one of the property got cancelled in between the process because the owner decided to not to sell that property few days after accepting our offer. Though there were searches and procedures done already for that property VersusLaw did not ask Fee for that purchase as they understood the difficult situation we were in. When we found our next property, we had no doubt whom to contact. We are really happy and totally satisfied by the service Nicola, Natalie and their team offered. We will highly recommend your service to anyone,
Ross Grant

Today I have completed on the purchase of my very first apartment, and it just wouldn’t have been possible without the INCREDIBLE knowledge, guidance and GENUINE care of Nicola, Natalie, and the entire Versus Law team.

This purchase was far from straightforward, with lots of potential pitfalls – all navigated with professionalism, patience and an impeccable attention to detail by Nicola.

Nic went well above and beyond the call of duty to look into some extremely complex accounts and repair budgets to the apartment block in question – something I would have completely overlooked.

As a result, with her guidance, I managed to negotiate a £2,000 reduction in asking price – something I’m sure other solicitors would have let slip through the net.

That’s a genuine £2000 saving – a lot of money for a first-time buyer.

You get a real sense that these guys actually CARE – they make you feel more like a friend, than a client – and don’t leave a stone unturned when it comes to conveyancing. If there is anything to uncover on a property, trust me, Nicola will find it!

In essence, Versus Law made what could have been a rather stressful situation, easy and straightforward.

Communications and response times were brilliant, with daily updates coming via phone and email – and I never felt rushed by anyone when I had queries.

I honestly cannot recommend Versus Law enough.

I’m going to pick up the keys to my apartment now – and won’t be using anyone other than these guys for all future property purchases/ sales.

THANK YOU SO MUCH Versus Law – I’ll be raising a glass of champagne to you all at the housewarming! 🙂
CW

Great service provided by Nicola and her team.
Always communicating with updates for the completion of my property.
Would highly recommend
Jackie

I used Versus Law to buy my first house. Had no idea how it worked but I must say that the conveyancing team held my hand all the way through. On the day of completion there was a delay and they stayed in office late to ensure it went through so I wasn’t waiting over the weekend. It was an absolute pleasure to deal with Versus Law and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. It was nice to speak to people who I felt cared for me and put my interests first at all times. Thank you so much for your help
Andy

Versus were great to deal with when they provided the conveyancing for my house purchase. I was able to complete the process without needing to physically travel to their offices and my solicitor was always available for any questions when I was completing all the paperwork. Everyone was very friendly to speak to.
T Baguley

Fantastic conveyancing service from Nicola and Natalie, they kept on top of everything from start to finish and were always available whenever we had questions. I’d be happy to recommend them to anyone.
David JC

Very impressed with every aspect of Versus Law, from service they provide to the attitude of the staff. Always called back when they said they would and had a laugh with them too. Will definately use again (if I need to).
Mrs Morris

I would recommend Versus Law to anyone, particularly Nick Wintrip, who looked after us extremely well. They are very efficient and communicated with us fully at all times. We were able to contact them by phone and e mail and did not need to rely on letter going back and forth. Nick is really friendly too and put us at ease throughout the end to end sales process. Thank you.
Tanita

Nicola and Natalie did a wonderful job. They were friendly and patient. Answered my many many questions and got the job done very efficiently. I am highly impressed and would definitely recommend them.

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