Residential Property Conveyancing Solicitors

For most people, buying or selling your home is likely to be the biggest financial transaction you will ever be involved in. It is absolutely vital, therefore, to ensure all of the legal and financial details are dealt with correctly so the transaction can go ahead smoothly and your interests stay protected.

HCB’s highly experienced residential conveyancing solicitors throughout the UK have the expertise and local knowledge to efficiently and cost-effectively handle your conveyancing. We know all the common issues that can occur and how to take pre-emptive action to avoid problems, delays and cost overruns wherever possible. Where problems do occur, we have the expertise to quickly offer effective solutions to allow your transaction to keep moving forwards.

We regularly work on all kinds of residential property transactions, including buying and selling freehold and leasehold property, remortgaging and lease extensions. Whatever your requirements, we can help to make sure your residential property deal goes ahead as quickly as possible with the minimum stress.

Speak to our expert conveyancing solicitors across the UK now by contacting your local HCB office or using the enquiry form below for a swift response.

Our conveyancing for residential property service

Our residential property solicitors offer expert conveyancing services for a wide range of property transactions, including:

• Freehold property sales and purchases
• Leasehold sales and purchases
• Lease extensions
• Remortgaging
• Investment property sales or purchases
• Equity Transfers
• Equity Release
• Probate sales
• Inheritance and Capital Gains Tax

Frequently Asked Questions about conveyancing

• What are conveyancing fees?

Conveyancing fees fall into two main categories – the fee your solicitor charges for their time and the fees charged by third-parties for checks, searches and other services. These third-party charges are known as disbursements and are usually non-negotiable, meaning they should be the same no matter who you use for your conveyancing. The fees your solicitor charges will depend on their level of experience and other factors, so the cheapest conveyancing service will not necessarily offer the best value for money.

• What checks and searches does a conveyancer do?

The exact checks and searches a conveyancer will carry out on a property will vary, depending on the type of property and your requirements. Standard checks include anti-money laundering checks (which are a legal requirement), local searches, a drainage search and an environmental search.

Other highly recommended searches include a planning search to see what, if any, developments are going to be taking place in your local area in the future. Your conveyancer should be able to advise you on any other checks and searches that are advisable in your case.

• How long does conveyancing take?

The length of time conveyancing takes depends on the complexity of the transaction, any problems that arise during the conveyancing process and how quickly you and the other party involved in the deal need to move. Typically conveyancing takes around 6-8 weeks, but it can take much less or a lot longer depending on the circumstances.

If you need the deal to progress quickly, this is something you should discuss with your conveyancer and the other party up front so they can explore all possible options for expediting the sale.

• How does exchange of contracts work?

Until you exchange contracts, the deal is not legally binding and either side can usually pull out without penalty.

Exchange of contracts usually involves the seller’s solicitor producing a contract laying out the details of the sale, including the agreed price, exactly what is included in the sale and when the deal should be completed. The buyer’s solicitor will then review the contract, suggest any amendments and reach an agreement with the seller’s solicitor to implement these amendments wherever possible.

Two copies of the final contract will be produced and both parties’ solicitors will review the contacts together to ensure they are identical. Once both sets of solicitors are satisfied that the contracts are identical, the buyer and seller will both sign their copies and then your solicitors will send the signed contract to the other party’s solicitors, usually by post.

Once this exchange of contracts has taken place, the deal is legally binding and you may lose your deposit (if you are the buyer) and face legal action if you pull out.

• What is the difference between a conveyancing solicitor and a licensed conveyancer?

A licensed conveyancer is a legal professional trained in property law. They have the expertise to deal with standard property transactions and related issues, but they are not a fully qualified solicitor. A conveyancing solicitor is a fully qualified solicitor who specialises in property law, meaning they can handle property transactions, but also have wider legal expertise.

At HCB we have both licensed conveyancers and conveyancing solicitors on our team. This means we can offer a cost-effective, efficient service for all standard residential property transactions, while also having the depth and breath of knowledge provided by fully qualified residential property solicitors when required, giving you the best of both worlds.

Why choose HCB for your residential property conveyancing?

HCB is a network of 24 offices nationwide, giving us expert local knowledge across much of the UK, as well as the experience and resources to provide effective solutions for even the most obscure issues to do with residential property transactions.

We offer fixed fees wherever possible and keep our pricing transparent, so you know exactly what you are paying for and can make a clear comparison with other conveyancers.

Our conveyancing solicitors focus on good communication, responsiveness, efficiency, attention to detail and being proactive to give you the conveyancing service you deserve. We promise that your calls will be returned promptly alongside fast communication by e-mail and that your conveyancing will be handled by specialist property lawyers with the expertise to offer the best possible service.

We have established relationships with estate agents, financial advisers, developers, surveyors and local authorities around the country, allowing us to process your conveyancing quickly and resolve any issues that arise effectively.

Our conveyancing solicitors have the highest level of training and experience, with many of our team having trained at some of the country’s top law firms. We are accredited by the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme, which acts as a mark of the quality of our residential conveyancing service. Achieving this accreditation required our conveyancing solicitors to undergo rigorous examination and testing to demonstrate that their knowledge, skills and experience meet the highest standards.