Conveyancing in Barnstaple
Conveyancing describes the legal transfer of property ownership, and includes all the administrative and legal work carried out by a solicitor. If you need a solicitor for conveyancing in Barnstaple, we can help you with fast & proactive conveyancing from a national panel of conveyancing specialists.
We have helped clients in Barnstaple and throughout North Devon with buying, selling, buy-to-let, Help to Buy, Right to Buy, shared ownership, new build, leasehold, lease extensions, remortgage and transfer of equity.
Other areas covered: Bideford, Ilfracombe, Plymouth and Torbay
Buying property in Barnstaple
A market town in North Devon, Barnstaple is renowned for its historic Pannier Market and its proximity to scenic beaches. Offering a blend of shopping, dining and recreational facilities, it sits near the Exmoor National Park. Barnstaple has a population of approximately 24,000.
Council Tax in Barnstaple (2023/24)
Barnstaple is in North Devon District Council.
| Band | Amount |
|---|---|
| A | £1,519.25 |
| B | £1,772.46 |
| C | £2,025.67 |
| D | £2,278.88 |
| E | £2,785.30 |
| F | £3,291.71 |
| G | £3,798.13 |
| H | £4,557.76 |
What does a property lawyer do?
A solicitor handles all of the post-offer aspects of buying property, and assists you with the legal aspect of transferring ownership from the seller to the buyer.
The solicitor will raise enquires of the seller, order searches, review the contract of sale and ensure that post-purchase requirements, such as registering the property ownership with the Land Registry and paying SDLT, are completed.
Barnstaple conveyancing solicitors may undertake checks for issues related to flood risk, radon gas and mundic.
Are you funding your home purchase with a mortgage?
When you buy a house, your solicitor must also handle some legal work for the bank arranging your mortgage. Acceptance on a lender's panel will mean your solicitor is able to represent your chosen mortgage provider.
We work with lawyers who can represent the vast majority of mortgage lenders, such as major banks like NatWest, to smaller lenders like Yorkshire Building Society and Bluestone Mortgages - ensuring your transaction will complete without delay.
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Conveyancing for buying a property
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
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We can help home movers in Barnstaple with conveyancing for:
When purchasing a property in a conservation area, your solicitor will need to check for restrictive covenants, e.g. heritage access, and business use restrictions. Conservation areas in Barnstaple and across the North Devon local authority include Heanton Punchardon, Georgeham, King's Nympton, Witheridge and Lower East Lyn.Buying in a conservation area
New Build
The conveyancing for purchasing a new build property in Barnstaple any other mortgage issues.
A good solicitor in Barnstaple must be able to deal with things like dealing with delays associated with off-plan, handling initial Land Registry registration and any other mortgage issues.
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Selling property in Barnstaple
The sale of a Barnstaple house or flat will require the solicitor to first assemble all essential documents, including the draft contract and property information forms, and help you fill out this paperwork.
The conveyancer's role involves sorting out potential snags, answering enquiries from the buyer's solicitor and redeeming the mortgage.
In order to facilitate a faster completion, your conveyancer will also coordinate with all stakeholders, such as estate agents, landlords and lenders.
Does the conveyancing for selling leasehold take longer?
Yes, compared to freehold conveyancing. The conveyancing for selling leasehold houses or flats can be seriously delayed.
The buyer's solicitor must review these documents, including a copy of buildings insurance for the common parts of the property. The time needed by your lawyer to gather this paperwork is the common cause of such delays.
It can take a long time to gather this information if it is difficult to contact the agent responsible for managing the property or they are slow to respond, so your solicitor should get this underway even before a sale has been agreed.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgage conveyancing
The base interest rate is 5.25% (12 October, 2024)
You will need to verify the solicitor that you want to carry out the legal work for your remortgage is on your mortgage lender's legal panel before you instruct.
We work with solicitors who can work on behalf of almost all lenders, so whether you are switching to an offset mortgage from Lloyds Bank or taking out a first time buyer mortgage from Chelsea Building Society, we can help you.
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Check our panel solicitors can act for your lender
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Transfer of equity in Barnstaple
If you need to restructure the ownership of your property, whether you are tax planning for the future, transferring the ownership of your home to your daughter, son or other family member or adding your spouse to the deeds, you'll need to carry out a transfer of equity. Your solicitor will handle all the required documentation and register the new interest at HM Land Registry for a low, fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
How much are solicitors' conveyancing fees in Barnstaple?
On a conveyancing quote, the various costs or charges can be split into two types:
Legal fees
These fees are what your solicitor or conveyancer charges you for the work they complete for you. The quote will detail the fees for the legal work, including VAT, that you'll pay when your transaction completes.
Conveyancing disbursements
Disbursements are fees that your solicitor or conveyancer will have to pay on your behalf for third-party services. Examples of disbursements include Local authority searches, Stamp Duty or a flood risk report.
Check the T's & C's
When comparing quotes, beware of hidden charges not mentioned in the initial conveyancing quote. Some solicitors' quotes include additional fees in their terms and conditions, resulting in a total cost that's much higher than the initial quote.
