Overview
Conveyancing
We are specialist Residential Conveyancing Solicitors
"Highly professional service throughout. This is the 3rd time I've used Jackson Lees Solicitors and the service has been absolutely fantastic once again. I highly recommend Jackson Lees." - Mrs Smith, verified conveyancing client
Buying a home is a big investment. Likewise, selling a home isn’t to be dealt with lightly, either. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell your home, you’re in good hands with Jackson Lees’ team of experienced specialists. Our dedicated conveyancing team are committed to taking care of all relevant legal procedures when you are buying, selling or remortgaging a property. With over 100 verified 5* reviews from conveyancing clients, you can rest assured that we will keep you informed at all times, with an open and clear charging policy so that you know where you stand.
Ready to speak to a professional? Make an enquiry today.
How Jackson Lees can help
At Jackson Lees, we offer a range of conveyancing services, including:
- Sale Only
- Purchase Only
- Sale & Purchase
- Re-mortgage
- New-build Purchases
- Help to Buy
- Equity Release
- Transfer of Equity
- Auction Sales and Purchases
- Buy to Let
Our experienced Residential Property lawyers aim to take the hassle out of the conveyancing process, guiding you through the important milestones from the moment the offer is accepted, right through to completion. At Jackson Lees, we have developed an approach to conveyancing that puts your needs at the centre of the process.
Once you have chosen the property you would like to purchase or found a buyer for your sale, you will need support from a legal team to advise and guide you through the legal process of transferring ownership.
We will provide you with a bespoke quote which will take into consideration the type of transaction (e.g. sale, purchase, sale and purchase, etc.), the value of the property and whether the property is freehold or leasehold.
Please give a member of our team a call on 0151 282 1700 and we will be happy to chat through your requirements and provide a quote over the phone. Alternatively, you can request a call back at a time that is convenient for you.
The Conveyancing process Explained
To help you understand the UK's conveyancing process, watch our short video guide below where Head of our Residential Property team, John E. Jones, explains what conveyancing is, why you need a conveyancer, and how to choose the right one.
The mains steps include:
- Draft Contracts and Title Documents
During the initial period, our lawyers will examine the draft contract and title documents for the property. They will raise questions on the papers to highlight any potential concerns. They will report to you details of the property and provide you with a copy of any questions they have raised.
- Property Searches
A series of searches will be made with various authorities to find out the history of the property and the land the property is in. This will usually be with the local authority, water authority and environmental agency although there could be others depending upon where your property is. The searches will either be undertaken direct or via a personal search agent. The search results will be reported to the buyer with advice on any further steps that need to be taken.
- Mortgage Offer
Receipt of a mortgage offer will confirm the terms on which the lender will advance the monies.
- Exchange of Contracts
When all questions have been answered and our lawyers have received the search results and mortgage offer, they will seek authority to exchange contracts with the other parties’ solicitors. As it suggests this is when the contract you have signed gets exchanged with the contract that the other party has signed. It is at that point that all parties (the buyer and the seller) are bound by the contract, the deposit paid and the completion date or moving date is set.
- Completion date
This is the day the keys are exchanged, the moving date. For buyers, the keys will usually be available from around lunchtime although it can sometimes be later depending upon the length of the chain and the time it takes for the funds to move through the banking system. Your property lawyer will keep you informed on the day of completion.
- After Completion
Post-completion, there are a few final steps that our lawyers will need to take. These include payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax, receipt of your finalised legal documents and registration of your ownership with land registry. Once this has all been finalised you will be sent a copy of the title deeds for your records.
Why Jackson Lees?
Our highly experienced team of conveyancing lawyers are proud to hold The Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation. This quality standard recognises the hard work that the team deliver on a daily basis and shows that we have the expertise to deliver quality residential conveyancing advice to you.
Our friendly Conveyancing team are based in our Wirral and Liverpool City Centre offices. To reach them, simply call 0151 282 1700, or get in touch with them online by making an enquiry.
Related Information
Here are a few links that you might find useful:
- Government Advice on Transferring Ownership of your Home
- Conveyancing Act
- Read our Guide to Conveyancing
Pricing
Our Fees to Help You Move Home
We aim to provide tailored quotes to individuals based on their specific circumstances. To get your bespoke conveyancing quote, please give a member of our team a call (or request a callback) and we will be happy to chat through your requirements and provide a quote over the phone.
Read our complete conveyancing guide
Conveyancing Fees
As an example, our standard legal fees for a sale and purchase of a freehold property can range from anywhere between £605-£1760 + VAT (currently at 20%), depending on the value of the properties being bought and sold. To get a quote based on your specific circumstances, please give our team a call.
In addition to our standard legal fees for the conveyancing process, you will also be charged for the following depending on your particular set of circumstances and the type of transaction it is (ie, sale or purchase / freehold or leasehold / value of property):
Standard legal administration fees – these include:
- Funds transfer fee
- Undertaking and advising on Land Registry and bankruptcy searches
- Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) Submission fee
- Mortgage administration fee
- Legal fees for undertaking lawyer checker
- Office copies fee
- Legal fees for dealing with due diligence including AML and identification
Searches & disbursements (purchase) fees:
- Local Authority search
- Drainage & Water search
- Environmental search
- Chancel Indemnity
- Land Registration fee
- Stamp Duty Land Tax
You must pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) if you buy a property or land that falls within certain price ranges in England.
If the property is in Wales the tax is different and you will pay Land Transaction Tax (LTT) .
The current SDLT threshold for residential properties in England is £125,000 and £150,000 for non-residential land and properties.
The amount of tax you will have to pay depends upon whether the property is for residential or non-residential/mixed use.
If you are buying a residential property there are different rates of SDLT if:
- You are a First Time Buyer
- You already own a property and are buying an additional property
- You are not a UK resident
If the above fees apply to your transaction they will be detailed in your bespoke quote to allow you to budget properly for the conveyancing process. By choosing Jackson Lees’ conveyancing team there will be no nasty surprises in our bill at the end of your transaction.
From time to time things arise within a conveyancing transaction that are not clear at the outset and will require additional work from your conveyancer to ensure that you a properly protected and advised.
To assist you to obtain a quote online and provide as much visibility as possible we have to set a criteria which indicates to you the assumptions we have made and the aspects that may change (for example if search fees increase during your transaction or something arises that could not have been anticipated at the time of the quote).
We have provided details of the criteria applied together with a menu of pricing to indicate the fees that would apply if these situations come up. Your conveyancer would inform you during the transaction if they apply and why.
Property Purchase:
Property Sale:
Remortgage:
How long does it take on average to buy a home?
This will depend upon whether you are buying and selling at the same time, obtaining a mortgage and whether there are any issues with the property. The more properties in the chain the longer it is likely to take.
The current conveyancing industry research shows that the average transaction takes around 16 weeks from offer to completion. However, the timescale can vary considerably from transaction to transaction and it is important that you keep in contact with your conveyancer in relation to the likely timescale in your individual case.
Your Team
Your conveyancing team will usually consist of an experienced conveyancer working with an assistant from the people referred to below in the ‘Our People’ section. To find out more about them, click their profile, or visit the ‘Our People’ page.
FAQs
FAQs
How much should I pay for conveyancing?
We can provide you with a full quotation, please speak to a member of our team please call us on 0151 282 1700 (or request a callback) and we will be happy to chat through your requirements and provide a quote over the phone.
Conveyancing costs can vary dependent on the property value, type, situation and any specialist searches or checks that may be required.
What does a conveyancer do when buying a house?
First of all, we aim to give you peace of mind. Whether you are a first time buyer or an experienced property owner, we will ensure the process runs smoothly and efficiently. Our lawyers are there to assist you and advise you on the legal implications of the property purchase. They will draw up all necessary documents, report to your on all relevant points and arrange the transfer of documents and funds to complete the transaction.
How long does conveyancing take (with no chain)?
On average, Conveyancing takes around 16 weeks, from offer to completion. However, this can vary dramatically from case to case, with some transactions completing sooner and others facing long delays.
The shorter the housing chain, the less likelihood there is of delays. Yet, even in chain-free situations, delays can be caused by missing deeds, mortgage complications, delayed funding, and issues arising from property searches and surveys. During the process, our lawyers will provide the support you need and work as quickly as possible.