Conveyancing in Chelmsford
Conveyancing is the legal process used for transferring ownership of a property from one party to another, or the work involved in a remortgage or transfer of equity. If you need a solicitor for conveyancing in Chelmsford, we can help you with fast & proactive conveyancing from a national panel of conveyancing specialists.
We have helped clients in Chelmsford and throughout Essex with buying, selling, buy-to-let, Help to Buy, Right to Buy, shared ownership, new build, leasehold, lease extensions, remortgage and transfer of equity.
Buying property in Chelmsford
The county town of Essex, Chelmsford is considered to be within the London commuter belt, yet its employment opportunities mean there are as many people commuting in to the town as those travelling to London.
It was granted city status in 2012 and has become one of the most desirable places to live in the south-east, with good amenities and surrounded by attractive countryside.
Almost two-thirds of the population live in detached or semi-detached homes, but a wide diversity of other properties are available, with new-build developments regularly coming on-stream.
Outside the city boundaries are the pretty villages of Springfield, Writtle and Great Baddow, with their wide range of properties and amenities attracting young families.
Council Tax in Chelmsford (2023/24)
Band | Amount |
---|---|
A | £1,349.89 |
B | £1,574.87 |
C | £1,799.86 |
D | £2,024.84 |
E | £2,474.80 |
F | £2,924.77 |
G | £3,374.73 |
H | £4,049.68 |
What do Chelmsford conveyancing solicitors do?
A conveyancer plays a key role after an offer has been accepted, and helps the buyer with the legal side of a home purchase.
They will order property searches, raise questions for the seller's solicitor, review the lease (if applicable) and take care of tasks after the sale, like paying Stamp Duty and registering the property ownership with the Land Registry.
Further to the standard checks and searches, Chelmsford conveyancing solicitors may undertake flood risk assessments due to large low-lying areas, and potential for London's green belt issues.
Purchasing a property with a mortgage?
If you are purchasing property with a mortgage, your solicitor will investigate the property to verify that the property is worth the loan that the bank or building society will provide.
If your conveyancer is not on your mortgage provider's panel, your purchase could take significantly longer to complete.More than 100 mortgage lenders have approved our chosen panel solicitors. We can help you complete your Chelmsford transaction without delay.
Read more:
Conveyancing for buying a property
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
We can help Chelmsford home movers with conveyancing for:
Around half a million listed properties exist in England and Wales, 1,034 of which are in Chelmsford Borough Council. Listed buildings and properties in and near to Chelmsford include: Owning a listed building can be a challenge for the unwary. Examples of the duties faced by listed property owners include regular upkeep, consent required for energy efficient alterations and an obligation to preserve or restore original windows and doors. Our specialist panel of solicitors will clarify the commitments a listed building owner must make. Read more:Buying a listed building
Buying a property through a shared ownership scheme means paying a reduced percentage share of the property. Purchasing a shared ownership home can be more involved than buying the home outright. Whether you are staircasing shares in your current home, or buying a shared ownership property, our panel solicitors can assist you with every aspect of the purchase process.Shared Ownership Conveyancing
New Build Conveyancing
The conveyancing for buying a new build in Chelmsford can be complicated compared to other types of conveyancing.
A conveyancing solicitor in Chelmsford must be able to deal with things like liaising with the builder's onsite sales team, confirming right of way over drains and sewers and working with warranty providers such as NHBC, Advantage HCI and Q Assure.
Read more:
Selling a property in Chelmsford
At the start of the property selling process in Chelmsford, your conveyancing solicitor will prepare the necessary documentation, including the sale contract and assorted property information forms.
The lawyer will resolve any potential issues, respond to inquiries from the buyer's solicitor and handle the mortgage redemption.The solicitor will also coordinate with both sides, like agents, lenders and landlords, so your sale completes without a hitch.
Does the conveyancing for selling leasehold take longer?
Yes, it can take considerably longer to carry out the legal work to sell leasehold properties when compared to conveyancing on a freehold house.
The buyer's solicitor will want to see several leasehold-related documents. These could include a current statement of service charges and management company information. Typically, delays are due to the time needed by the solicitor to gather this paperwork.
Your lawyer should start this process even before you have found a buyer, because these details can take weeks to collect if it is difficult to contact the landlord or managing agent.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgaging
The current Bank of England base rate is 4.5% (15 February, 2025)
Double check your lawyer's lender panel membership before you instruct your solicitor.
Quittance panel solicitors can work on behalf of almost all banks and building societies. Whether you are changing to an offset mortgage with TSB or moving to a 10-year tracker rate with Accord, our panel solicitors will make the process as simple and stress-free as possible.
Read more:
Check our panel solicitors can act for your lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transfer of equity
Whether you are gifting a share of a property, buying out an ex-partner after a separation or tax planning for the future, you will need to transfer equity.
Your property lawyer will handle the legal side for a guaranteed fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
How much does conveyancing cost in Chelmsford?
Don't be surprised if some of the costs listed on a conveyancing quote seem unfamiliar.
Conveyancing fees
These fees are what your conveyancing solicitor charges you for the work they carry out during your property transaction. The quote will set out the legal fees (inc. VAT) that you pay when the property transaction is complete.
Conveyancing disbursements
Disbursements are third-party expenses incurred during the purchase, sale or other conveyancing transaction. Third-party disbursements include Local authority searches, Stamp Duty or an environmental search.
Are the conveyancing fees fixed?
If you are comparing quotes, watch out for additional charges. Some firms set out additional charges in their terms and conditions, leading to an inflated final bill.