1. The Council for Licensed Conveyancers is the governing body of Licensed Conveyancers.  Professional Rules laid down require that our clients be informed of our Terms of Engagement.  This formal leaflet indicates the basis on which this firm carries out professional services on behalf of our clients.
  2. The offices of J Scollan & Co (the firm) are located at 139 Little Ealing Lane, London, W5 4EJ.  The normal hours of business are between 9am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.  Appointments can be arranged outside these hours.
  3. Once you have instructed the firm to act on your behalf you will be informed of the person primarily responsible for the conduct of your transaction and also the Principal with ultimate responsibility for the work of that person.
  4. In the event of any problem arising during the course of your transaction you are entitle to complain to the Council for Licensed Conveyancers the statutory authority which regulates the activities of all Licensed Conveyancers in accordance with the administration of Justice Act 1985.  However it is suggested that, initially, you should advise (preferably in writing) the Principal of the firm of the precise nature of the complaint whereupon we will do our utmost to resolve the matter.  If this does not produce satisfaction the address of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers is 16 Glebe Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QG.
  5. You will be notified at the outset of any transaction the cost of carrying out the work for that transaction or the basis on which the charges will be calculated.  It is the firm's usual practice to charge for work carried out on any matter which becomes abortive on a pro rata basis.  The costs and disbursements due for any transaction must be paid prior to completion of the transaction.
  6. Disbursements expended by the firm on behalf of our clients, for example, search fees, Land Registry fees and stamp duties must be paid by the client prior to the time when that expenditure is required to be made.  We will usually request a sum to be paid generally on account of disbursements.
  7. In the event that costs or disbursements are incurred on behalf of a client prior to the monies being received such monies are immediately due from the client and must be paid within seven days of being requested.
  8. In the event of an interim account or a request for payment on account not being paid, the firm reserves the right to decline to act further in this matter.  The full amount of any work carried out to that date will be the subject of a final account rendered and will be a debt due from the client.
  9. The firm reserves the right to charge interest at 4% above HSBC Bank plc base rate from time to time from the date of delivery of an account to the date when payment is actually received.
  10. The professional charges of the firm take into account, as an offset, the receipt and retention of interest on clients' monies held by us in the routine course of business.   Unless it is agreed to the contrary in writing, the firm shall not be required to open any special deposit account or account to you for any interest which accrues, or ought to accrue, on any money received by the firm.
  11. In the event of the firm accepting instructions for any business which is not regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers we will notify the client that we will not be acting as Licensed Conveyancers and will not be regulated by the Council.
  12. In the event that a conflict of interest arises between two clients of the firm in the course of the transaction, we will cease to act for both clients and in the event that the conflict was unforeseeable we will be entitled to charge a fee for the work undertaken to the date of ceasing to act.
  13. The firm will be authorised to disclose your information and instructions to any mortgage lender to which you have applied or solicitors separately instructed by the mortgage lender.
  14. Where the firm receives commission in connection with any matter the client will be informed of the sum of commission received.
  15. The firm may pay a commission to a third party in connection with the introduction of a new client and the client will be informed of the sum of commission paid.
  16. The firm provide a safe custody service to clients in respect of deeds and other securities and no charge will be made to the client for such storage unless prior notice in writing is given to the client that a charge is to be made from a future date which will be specified in the notice.
  17. Following the conclusion of a transaction the firm will retain the client's file of papers for such period as they shall deem appropriate in their absolute discretion.
  18. The firm reserves the right to charge a fee for the retrieval of a file from storage, at the request of a client, after a period of more than six months since the conclusion of the transaction. (currently £35 plus VAT)
  19. Should you have any queries regarding our terms of engagement please do not hesitate to contact the person having conduct of your matter who will be pleased to explain, clarify or amplify any points.
  20. Your continuing instructions in this matter will amount to an acceptance of these Terms of Engagement.

 
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