Residential Conveyancing Solicitors
We have an enviable level of knowledge and expertise across our property teams and act for both residential and commercial clients on a wide range of property transactions. Our goal is to make sure that our clients are exposed to minimal risk, delay, and stress throughout the process of buying, selling, or leasing property.
Accredited by the Law Society under the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), we are on the conveyancing panels of all the major lenders and are committed to using plain English across all correspondence.
Residential Property Conveyancing
Every day we change the lives of our residential property clients by helping them achieve their dream home moves.
We act for clients on a wide range of residential property transactions, from large, landed estates to Chester city centre apartments. Whether you’re buying, selling, remortgaging or transferring ownership, we focus on keeping your matter moving, explaining the details clearly, and helping you feel confident about what happens next.
Our Residential Property Services
We offer a personal, friendly, and efficient service and will competently guide you through the conveyancing process for sales and purchases, including those with leasehold tenure, re-mortgaging and transfers of equity, new leases, lease extensions and shared ownership, gifting and transferring, auctions, sales of part and other specialist transactions, new builds, first registrations, rights of long user and boundaries, easements and other rights.
Whether you are moving home, buying your first property or selling an investment, we will guide you through the conveyancing process from offer through to completion. We can advise on both freehold and leasehold transactions and will keep you updated in plain English as the matter progresses.
Buy to let purchases and sales often come with additional considerations, particularly around timescales, lender requirements and ensuring the title works for your longer-term plans. We support landlords and investors with clear advice and a steady, efficient process from start to finish.
If you are adding or removing someone from a property title, or changing how a property is owned, we can advise and handle the transfer of equity. This is commonly needed following changes in relationships, family arrangements, or where a property is being gifted or reorganised for planning purposes.
How much will the conveyancing process cost?
To help you understand likely costs at an early stage, you can use our conveyancing calculator to obtain an accurate, no obligation costing for your requirements. Please note that our fees may be charged on a fixed fee or time served basis depending on the services required, and in many instances there are additional third-party fees which are also chargeable.
Costs will depend on the nature of the transaction and any additional work required, such as leasehold documentation, new build requirements, or auction deadlines. We will always explain your likely fee basis and any third-party costs as early as possible, so you can make informed decisions.
Timescales for Residential Conveyancing
Typically most conveyances take between 12 and 14 weeks but can vary depending on the complexity and nature of the transaction. Where a matter is time-sensitive, we will discuss this with you early on and keep you updated as the transaction progresses.
Who will work on your conveyancing matter?
A fully qualified lawyer. Your matter will either be handled or supervised by a solicitor with at least 10 years’ experience in this area of work. Some areas of work may be supported by our Paralegal team, and administrative duties will be undertaken by our support staff.
As Head of Department, Sarah Davies has overall responsibility for the supervision of all work carried out by her team.
Key Contact
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Experienced
Our property teams have an enviable level of knowledge and expertise and act for both residential and commercial clients on a wide range of property transactions, from large, landed estates to Chester city centre apartments, offices and retail units.
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Specialists
Our team is accredited by the Law Society under the Conveyancing Quality scheme (CQS) and we are on the conveyancing panels of all the major lenders. We have a great track record of successfully completing property transactions and negotiating leases.
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Understanding
We understand that any property transaction can present challenges and that no two transactions are the same. Our goal is to make sure that our clients are exposed to minimal risk, delay and stress throughout the process of buying, selling or leasing.
Conveyancing FAQs
Typically, most conveyances take between 12 and 14 weeks to complete, due to the bustling nature of the conveyancing market at present, however no two conveyances are the same. Once we have a good understanding of your transaction, we will provide you with a more accurate estimate on timescales.
You also need to be aware that many of the key stages in the conveyancing process are reliant on third parties such as the other side’s conveyancer, mortgage companies and surveyors to name just a few, we will manage these processes on your behalf and keep you up to date as we progress through your matter.
There are several costs involved in the conveyancing process. Alongside our professional fees there are search fees, registration fees and depending on the type and value of your transaction Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in England and Land Transaction Tax (LTT) in Wales.
The quickest and simplest way to get a precise quote for your transaction is to use our free online quote builder. Powered by Pali LTD, the quote builder provides an accurate quote in minutes, with a full breakdown of costs provided in PDF form. The quote builder is completely free to use, you can generate quotes for; Sale & Purchase, Sale Only, Purchase Only and Remortgage transactions. There are no hidden extras and there is no obligation to proceed. It is simply a really easy way to get a price for your conveyancing solicitor.
In terms of when fees are due, we require £400 at the start of the process to cover the cost of your searches. Prior to Exchange we will request that you transfer your deposit to us and just prior to the completion date we ask you to provide any additional purchase funds and monies to cover legal costs, Stamp Duty/Land Transaction Tax and disbursements.
With freehold purchases, you own the property and land on which the property is build. With leasehold purchases, you own the property for a fixed period but not the land it is built on.
Most flats and apartments are sold as leasehold. With leasehold purchases you will likely be liable for some form of annual ground rent and potentially management fees for the management of any shared areas.
Before we can act for you, we need to confirm your identity as part of our anti-money laundering procedures, this is the same for all conveyancers.
To confirm your identity, we will send you an email which will contain a link to complete an electronic identity check, this will require either a valid passport or driving licence. If you do not hold a valid passport or driving licence, please contact our File Opening team, who will be able to assist you.
A survey is an expert inspection completed by a surveyor who will visit the property and prepare a report on it. It is really important to undertake a survey of any property you intend to purchase as once contracts are exchanged you are committed to buying the property and have no come back should you discover issues down the line. A survey can highlight any areas of concern. The surveyor may also recommend that you undertake additional specialist reports or (in some instances) can give you a guide for the cost of undertaking any works.
You will need a minimum of a valuation report to satisfy your lender that the property is of the same value as detailed in their mortgage offer.
There are three levels of survey available:
Level one: Valuation report
This is essentially your lender checking that the property value matches the value detailed in their mortgage offer.
Level two: Home buyer report:
This is a much more in-depth survey which will highlight any issues with the property and will usually include photographs detailing any issue the surveyor has found.
Level three: Full building survey:
This is a full structural survey of the property and is the most thorough survey available. It will provide you with a comprehensive analysis of the property’s structure and condition.
Not at all, we simply need to complete some additional paperwork, and confirm your parent’s (or whoever is supplying the deposit) identity, address details and source of funds. Parental deposits are commonplace in the current mortgage and property markets.
As part of the process, we will request the mortgage monies from your lender on your behalf, we will then transfer these funds to the other side solicitor on the day of completion.
Exchange or Exchange of Contracts is when you become legally bound to purchase the Property. The process is undertaken via a series of phone calls between the buyer and the seller’s solicitors.
At this stage we will also pay over your deposit and fix the date for completion. Up to exchange, dates can be changed and either party can withdraw without legal liability. After exchange, there are penalties, and you will lose your deposit if you do not go ahead. Upon exchange buildings insurance will become your responsibility.
Completion is moving day. On the completion day we organise the transfer of funds to the seller’s solicitor. You are then able to collect the keys – usually about 2pm – and you take over responsibility for council tax and utilities.
Typically, the time gap between exchange and completion is quite short; often only a week to 10 days, however, should all parties agree, then it can be much longer or shorter.
If this is how you want the transaction to proceed and should all parties agree, then yes, we will arrange that for you.
Should you want your sale and purchase to complete on different days we can look to negotiate this with the other parties.
On Exchange of Contracts, a completion date will have been agreed, you should only book your removal firm once we have exchanged contracts. Up until this time the completion date can change.
Upon completion. Completion is the final stage in the process. On the completion day we organise the transfer of funds to the seller’s solicitor. You are then able to collect the keys – usually about 2pm.
Up until Exchange there is no legal obligation to proceed with the transaction, however you will incur costs for any work we have done on your behalf.
After exchange, there are penalties, and you will lose your deposit if you do not go ahead.
Contact Cullimore Dutton’s Property solicitors today
Whether you are buying or selling a home, remortgaging, transferring equity, or dealing with a more specialist transaction such as a lease extension, new build or auction purchase, we will guide you through the process with clear advice and calm, practical communication.
From our offices in Chester and Knutsford, we support clients across Cheshire and the North West, including in and around Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Macclesfield, Northwich, Warrington, Manchester and Liverpool. You can expect a personal, efficient conveyancing service in plain English, with your matter handled or supervised by a fully qualified lawyer and supported by a wider team as needed.
Get in touch with our team by calling us today or completing the form below to arrange an initial conversation. We will talk through what you are trying to achieve, explain what happens next, and set out how our fees work, whether on a fixed fee or time served basis, alongside any third-party costs that may apply.