Conveyancing in Birkenhead
The conveyancing process ensures the legal transfer of property from the seller to the buyer. If you're looking for a conveyancing solicitor in Birkenhead, you're in the right place. Get a fast & proactive solicitor from a nationwide panel of conveyancing experts.
We have years of experience helping homemovers in Birkenhead and throughout Wirral handle their sale, purchase, buy-to-let, Help to Buy, Right to Buy, shared ownership, new build, leasehold, lease extensions, remortgage and transfer of equity.
Other areas covered: Ellesmere Port, Liverpool, Sefton, Wallasey and Wirral
Buying property in Birkenhead
Birkenhead lies on the Wirral in the county of Merseyside, across the Mersey from Liverpool, and is connected to the latter by the Kingsway and Queensway tunnels and the famous Mersey ferry.
Shipbuilding remains an important part of the local economy, with contracts to supply parts for aircraft carriers and a royal research ship, The Sir David Attenborough, underway.
In February 2018, Wirral council confirmed a partnership with a private development company to form the new Wirral Growth Company, developing land across the borough and helping to create thousands of new jobs. As one of the project's priority areas, Birkenhead will see its market and town centre redeveloped.
Council Tax in Birkenhead (2023/24)
Birkenhead is in Wirral Metropolitan Borough.
| Band | Amount |
|---|---|
| A | £1,438.71 |
| B | £1,678.49 |
| C | £1,918.27 |
| D | £2,158.06 |
| E | £2,637.63 |
| F | £3,117.20 |
| G | £3,596.77 |
| H | £4,316.12 |
What do conveyancing solicitors do?
In a property purchase, your conveyancing solicitor will address all the legal details of the transaction. They will order property searches, raise enquires of the seller's solicitor, review the lease (if applicable) and ensure that post-purchase requirements, like registering the property ownership with the Land Registry, are completed.
Birkenhead conveyancing solicitors may carry out searches for flood risk and historic industrial activity.
Are you taking out a mortgage?
When you purchase a property, your solicitor must also handle some legal work for the bank. Panel approval means your solicitor can act for your mortgage provider.
Our chosen partner solicitors have established relationships with the majority of mortgage lenders, from major banks like Nationwide to smaller, specialist lenders including Keystone Finance - ensuring your transaction will complete without delay.
Read more:
Conveyancing for buying a property
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
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We can also help Birkenhead home buyers with the conveyancing for:
When purchasing a property in a conservation area, your solicitor will check for potential planning issues, including lapsed approvals, and lack of consent for dormer windows. Conservation areas in Birkenhead and the Wirral local authority include Bromborough Village, Caldy, Thornton Hough, Meols Drive and Frankby Village.Conservation areas
Around 500,000 listed properties exist across the country, and around 740 of which are in Wirral Metropolitan Borough. Listed buildings in and near to Birkenhead include: Owning a listed building brings its own set of challenges. Examples of the obligations placed upon listed building owners include regular upkeep, consent for additions like satellite dishes or external lighting and public access to certain areas. Our specialist panel of property solicitors will explain to you the obligations imposed by listed property ownership. Read more:Buying a listed building
Shared ownership conveyancing technically means purchasing a share in the property (normally 25%, 50% or 75%) from a social housing provider. Shared ownership conveyancing is more involved. This is because contracts are more complicated, and housing associations work to tight deadlines. With extensive specialist experience, our panel of solicitors can help you with your shared ownership purchase or staircasing.Shared Ownership Conveyancing
New Build Conveyancing
The conveyancing process for acquiring a new build home in Birkenhead can be complicated compared to other types of conveyancing.
A conveyancing solicitor in Birkenhead will need to be qualified to handle things like handling unreasonable delays, checking planning conditions have been fulfilled and any other mortgage issues.
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Leasehold flats
Purchasing a leasehold house or flat in the UK is significantly more complex than buying a freehold property. The numerous common problems lying in wait for an uninformed buyer can include legally technical issues like overpriced managing agent packs and unreasonable lease extension premiums.
Your conveyancing solicitor will look into all potential issues with the lease and report back to you.
Read more:
What you need to know about buying a leasehold property
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Selling a house or flat in Birkenhead
When you begin the process to sell a Birkenhead house or flat, the solicitor will first compile key documents, including property information forms and the contract of sale.
A seller's solicitor's duties include responding to enquiries from the buyer's solicitor, handling obstacles like a defective lease and taking charge of the mortgage redemption.
Your solicitor will coordinate with both sides, including agents, managing agents and lenders, so the sale is completed successfully.
Does sale conveyancing take longer for leasehold?
Compared to freehold property, yes. The conveyancing for selling leasehold houses or flats can be seriously delayed.
The solicitor acting for the buyer must review these documents, including a copy of the freehold property's buildings insurance. The time needed by the seller's conveyancer to get these documents together is commonly the source of delays.
Your lawyer should start this process even before a sale has been agreed, as this paperwork can take weeks to collect if the managing agent is slow or difficult to contact.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgaging a property in Birkenhead
The current Bank of England base rate is 4.5% (24 May, 2025)
Double check your lawyer's lender panel membership before you instruct your solicitor.
Quittance panel solicitors can work on behalf of almost all building societies and banks, so whether you are switching to a fixed rate mortgage from Nationwide or moving to an interest only mortgage with Allied Irish Bank, our panel solicitors will make the process as simple and stress-free as possible.
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Check our panel solicitors can act for your lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transfer of equity
Whether you are transferring the ownership of your property to a child, inheritance tax planning or adding a new partner, you'll need a solicitor to handle the transfer of equity. Your legal representative will complete the process for a guaranteed fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
How much are conveyancing fees in Birkenhead?
Getting a conveyancing quote takes moments - but understanding what is and isn't included in the quote can be challenging.
Conveyancing fees
These fees are paid to your conveyancer for the legal work that they complete during your transaction. The conveyancing quote should clearly detail the legal fees, including VAT, that you'll pay when your transaction completes.
Disbursements
Your conveyancing quote should also itemise required third-party costs, or disbursements, including Local authority searches, Stamp Duty or a plan search.
Are the conveyancing fees fixed?
If you are comparing quotes, beware of hidden fees or extra charges. Some firms include extra costs in their terms and conditions, leading to an inflated final bill.
