Conveyancing

Having a trusted law firm with experienced residential conveyancing solicitors on your side is invaluable when you are buying or selling a residential property. To speak with a residential property conveyancing solicitors call us on 0203 909 8399 or contact us online.

Connaughts has a dedicated residential property conveyancing team that has built a solid reputation in advising clients in the UK and overseas in all aspects of residential property transactions, including the sale and purchase of residential property, borrowing, lease extensions and leasehold enfranchisement.

We appreciate the risks and associated pressure on a transaction can be very high and our lawyer is able to guide clients through the process and ensure that the matter proceeds to completion as quickly and smoothly as possible. Our continuing commitment to excellence is reflected in our lawyer’s dedication in keeping clients regularly updated and ensuring all questions are answered.   As a result of our pragmatic and reliable approach, we have built a loyal base of repeat clients, both overseas and in the UK.

We advise on the following areas:

  • Freehold acquisitions and dispositions;
  • Transfers of Equity;
  • Lease extensions;
  • Sale and purchase of properties “off-plan” for domestic and international buyers; and
  • Re-finance and lending

If you are relying on a mortgage to assist you in purchasing your home, your mortgage lender will also instruct a solicitor to act for them. The mortgage lender will not always instruct the same solicitor who is acting for you in your purchase.

The most common reason why a mortgage lender instructs a separate solicitor is that the buyer’s solicitor is not on the lender’s panel of solicitors. All mortgage companies maintain a panel of solicitors who they instruct. When a firm is not on a particular lender’s panel they cannot act for that lender. It is quicker and cheaper if the same solicitor acts for both the buyer and the buyer’s lender.

If a separate solicitor is acting for the mortgage lender the buyer’s solicitor paperwork will have to be sent to the lender’s solicitor, causing delays in the conveyancing process. The buyer will have to pay two lots of solicitor’s fees.

Connaughts is on the majority of mortgage lenders list of approved solicitors.  Connaughts  is on the panel of the following mortgage lenders:

Bank of Ireland Barclays HSBC
First Direct Santander NatWest
TSB RBS Nationwide
M & S Accord Help to Buy

Why Us

Connaught Law is proud to be an accredited member of the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme. (CQS). The CQS provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices. Being a member of the CQS establishes a level of credibility in terms of the firm’s adherence to good practice and management standards and the implementation of prudent and efficient conveyancing procedures through the CQS protocol.

The Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme is a mark of excellence for the home buying process.

Connaught Law underwent rigorous assessment by the Law Society in order to secure CQS status, which marks the firm out as meeting high standards in the residential conveyancing process.

Our residential property team works closely with the litigation department who advise on property disputes, issues with tenants and proceedings for possession and also the tax department who advise overseas investor clients on tax-related issues.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is completion?

Throughout the process, you may hear your solicitor referring to “the completion date.” Completion happens exactly when you think it would: once the transaction is complete. After contracts have been signed and exchanged, your solicitor will inform you of the agreed date on which the funds from your mortgage will be released and transferred to the seller. Once this has happened, you will be the new legal owner of the property, and all that’s left is for you to pick up the keys and get moving.

What are property searches?

During the conveyancing process, your solicitor will carry out property searches. As with the survey, these searches provide essential information regarding the property you plan to purchase. There are three searches that are normally arranged by the solicitor on your behalf:

  • Local Authority Search
    This search is crucial in discovering information about the land where your property lies and the plans for the surrounding area. Your conveyancing solicitor will send a list of enquiries to the Local Authority on your behalf to find out about any upcoming developments in the area along with crucial information including but not limited to planning permissions, building regulations approval and guarantees, adopted roads and highways and tree preservation orders.In some cases, the results of these enquiries can effect the buyers decision to purchase, making it a vital part of the process.
  • Environmental Search
    The Environmental search is carried out to check whether the land on which your property lies is safe and uncontaminated. This may seem unnecessary, but in fact, the by-products caused by old industries may still present a health hazard for property owners, for example if the property lies where a landfill site used to exist.
  • Water Drainage Search
    Your solicitor will also raise enquiries with the local water company to ensure that your property is connected to mains water, mains drainage and ‘surface water drainage’.

How long will the conveyancing process take?

Generally speaking, the conveyancing process tends to take between six to eight weeks on average. However, certain issues can delay the process – for example, if you find yourself in a long chain of interlinked sales and purchases waiting for the seller to complete their property purchase before selling their current home. There could also be a delay in obtaining documents if, for example, the sellers solicitor is slow to respond. Your conveyancing solicitor should keep you regularly updated where they feel there will be potential delays as well as working to tackle them and keep the process moving.

What is Conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the legal transfer of a property from one owner to another. The process involves a conveyancing solicitor or licensed conveyancer who acts on behalf of the buyer to ensure their client receives the title deeds to the property and the land it sits on. Conveyancing encapsulates the entirety of the legal and administrative work required to ensure a house purchase is valid under the law.

Do i need a property inspection report for unmarried partner visa?

In order to satisfy the requirements of the Immigration Rules for an Unmarried Partner visa, you will need to demonstrate that there is adequate accommodation for yourself, your partner and any dependants.  Our immigration solicitors can arrange for a qualified surveyor with specialist knowledge and skills to attend your property to assess and produce a comprehensive report that can be submitted in support of your application.

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