Conveyancing & Property

Conveyancing | House Sale and Purchase

The prospect of buying or selling your home, managing your property, and handling potential property disputes can be daunting. Conveyancing transactions, in which the legal title of a property is transferred from one individual to another, can be particularly complicated and time-consuming.

In order to successfully transfer title, buyers need to ensure that the seller is the owner of the property and has the right to sell it. Securing “good” title enables the buyer to acquire a mortgage or later sell the property.

Buyers must also avoid other problems affecting the value of the property; unexpected access rights by third parties, requirements for the upkeep of a fence, or problems with the quality of the ground on which the property is built. Solicitors can assist with this process by carrying out searches, investigating legal title, liaising with the lender to obtain the mortgage funds, repaying any existing mortgage, and registering ownership on completion.

Sellers, on the other hand, must ensure that negotiations regarding the sale are made subject to contract until they are satisfied with the buyer and the terms of sale. A seller’s solicitor can help by collecting and sending information about the property to the buyer and preparing a draft contract.

How can we help?

Every house purchase and sale will be allocated to a particular lawyer who has responsibility for liaising with you and who will be happy to explain every stage of the transaction and keep you well informed of progress every step of the way. We have a direct computer link with HM Land Registry which helps to speed up the process.

What will it Cost?

The legal fees for buying and selling property will depend on a number of factors such as the value of the properties and whether or not you will have a mortgage. In addition to solicitors’ fees, you need to take into account disbursements or out of pocket expenses such as Stamp Duty, Land Registry Fees, Search Fees and Bank Transfer Fees.

A member of our conveyancing team will be happy to provide you with a quote over the telephone or via email.  We believe it is important that you are aware of all the costs and disbursements attached to your transaction so that you are not caught out by hidden costs at a later date. We believe it is important that you get a sense of whom you would be dealing with from the outset, when you choose to instruct us.

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Costing Guide – property purchase

Costing Guide – property sale

Costing Guide – Miscellaneous Property Transactions

The process

Our Conveyancing Flowchart  provides a simplified insight into the conveyancing process.

The estate agent’s role 

Getting accurate information about the chain is where a good estate agent is essential. Good agents will check down the chain (i.e. speak to the people buying and selling or to their Solicitors) and find out how many are involved. This is one of an estate agent’s most important functions.

The mortgage

Before issuing a formal mortgage offer, your building society or bank will require a valuation report from a qualified surveyor. The mortgage lender will arrange this at your expense. Depending on the arrangements made with the mortgage lender, you may be able to obtain a valuation report or a full survey from the same surveyor. Alternatively, you may wish to arrange a separate report. You should discuss this with the mortgage lender.

We will send you copies of documents which are relevant and at exchange of contracts we provide a detailed report on the terms of the purchase. However, we very rarely see the property itself so if, for example, the physical boundaries of the property do not fit with what you have seen documented, it is very important to query it. Sometimes, with older properties, there is just a general reference in the deeds: ‘subject to all rights of way, etc. presently used with the property’ – and in those cases physical inspection is important, to see if there is a path or something else which would show a right of way. If you see anything which you are not sure about, you should always query it with your solicitor.