The cost of purchasing a property will depend on the purchase price, the type of property and whether a mortgage is involved. In addition to your solicitor’s professional fee, you may need to budget for Stamp Duty, Land Registry or Registry of Deeds fees, searches and other outlays associated with the purchase. To receive an estimate of the costs involved, simply complete and submit our online conveyancing form with the details of the property you are purchasing and we can provide you with a clear breakdown of the expected costs.

Removing a former partner’s name from a property generally involves a legal transfer of their interest in the property. If there is a mortgage, the consent of the mortgage provider will always be required. You should apply for this consent before starting the legal process, as lending institutions rarely grant consent to simply remove one party from an existing mortgage. There may also be tax and other financial considerations depending on your circumstances. Our conveyancing solicitors can advise you on the steps involved and handle the transfer of ownership on your behalf.

If a property is currently registered in your sole name, it may be possible to transfer it into the joint names of you and your spouse. The process will depend on how the property is currently owned and whether there is a mortgage secured against it. We can review the title, advise you on the appropriate form of ownership and complete the necessary legal documentation and registration.

A site gifted by a parent will need to be legally transferred into your name. Each party must be separately legally represented, so the person gifting the site and the person receiving it will require their own solicitor. It is best to contact your solicitor as early as possible and before planning permission has been granted for the building of the house. Your solicitor can review the title, prepare the necessary transfer documentation and deal with the registration of your ownership.

There may also be tax implications for both parties, so appropriate tax advice may be required. If you intend to build a house on the site and require a mortgage, your lender will also have specific legal requirements that must be satisfied.

It is a good idea to appoint your solicitor as early as possible when you decide to sell your property and before it goes on the market. Your solicitor will obtain and review your title deeds, prepare the contract for sale and deal with the purchaser’s solicitor throughout the conveyancing process. If you have a mortgage, arrangements will also be made to redeem it from the proceeds of the sale. Getting the legal work underway early can help identify potential issues before a buyer is ready to proceed.

Even where both parties have agreed on the sale, the transfer of a plot of land needs to be completed formally. The exact area being purchased must be clearly identified, the seller’s title checked and the appropriate contract and transfer documentation prepared.

Planning, access, rights of way, boundaries and registration may also need to be considered. The buyer and seller must be represented by separate firms of solicitors.

Switching your mortgage to another lender involves legal work because your existing mortgage must be discharged and the new lender’s mortgage registered against the property. The overall cost will depend on the circumstances and can include your solicitor’s professional fee together with searches, registration fees and other outlays. Some mortgage providers may offer incentives towards switching costs. Contact us with the details of your proposed mortgage switch and we can provide a breakdown of the likely legal costs.

Once your mortgage has been fully repaid, the lender’s legal interest in the property needs to be released or discharged. Depending on how your property is registered, there may be documentation and registration work required to formally remove the lender’s charge. Your title documentation can then be retained safely by you or your solicitor. We can check the position of your title and advise you on what is required following repayment of your mortgage.

The time required to complete a property sale or purchase can vary depending on the circumstances. Factors such as mortgage approval, property searches, title issues, surveys and the length of the property chain can all affect the timeframe. Once contracts have been signed and all legal and financial requirements are in place, a completion date can be agreed. Your solicitor will keep you informed throughout the conveyancing process and work to resolve any issues that could cause unnecessary delays.

A conveyancing solicitor looks after the legal side of buying your home. This includes reviewing the contracts and title documents, carrying out the necessary searches, raising queries with the seller’s solicitor, dealing with your mortgage provider and ensuring the property can be legally transferred into your name. Your solicitor will also arrange the transfer of funds, payment of Stamp Duty and registration of your ownership after the purchase is completed.

Solicitors’ fees for buying or selling a property will depend on the circumstances of the transaction and the legal work involved. In addition to professional fees, there may be additional costs and outlays such as searches and registration fees.

Complete our online conveyancing form and we can provide you with an estimate setting out our professional fees together with the expected additional costs and outlays. Once you have received and considered the estimate, you can decide whether you would like to formally appoint Stone Solicitors LLP to act on your behalf.

If you have received an estimate from us and would like to proceed, simply let us know that you wish to appoint Stone Solicitors LLP to act on your behalf. We will then explain the next steps, request the information and documentation we require and begin the conveyancing process for your property purchase or sale.