Conveyancing in Chester
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property from one owner to another. If you're looking for a conveyancing solicitor in Chester, you're in the right place. Get a fast & proactive solicitor from a nationwide panel of conveyancing experts.
We have helped clients in Chester and throughout Cheshire West and Chester 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: Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Warrington and Wrexham
Buying property in Chester
A city in Cheshire, Chester is renowned for its preserved medieval city walls, Roman amphitheatre, and the stunning Chester Cathedral. Popular areas to live include Handbridge and Hoole. Chester has a mainline railway station offering good connections to other parts of the UK. Chester's population is approximately 80,000.
Council Tax in Chester (2023/24)
Chester is in Cheshire West and Chester Council.
| Band | Amount |
|---|---|
| A | £1,446.30 |
| B | £1,687.35 |
| C | £1,928.40 |
| D | £2,169.45 |
| E | £2,651.55 |
| F | £3,133.65 |
| G | £3,615.75 |
| H | £4,338.90 |
What will my Chester solicitor do?
A conveyancing solicitor oversees all post-offer aspects of purchasing a house or flat, and leads you through the legal side of a home purchase. Your solicitor will raise enquires of the seller's solicitor, order searches, review the contract of sale and handle post-completion tasks, including registering the property ownership with the Land Registry.
Chester conveyancing solicitors could also undertake searches to assess flood risk, subsidence and mining-related risks.
Buying with a mortgage?
When you buy a property with a mortgage, the bank or building society must check the property meets their criteria for lending.
If your lawyer is not on your chosen lender's panel, your purchase could take weeks longer to complete and incur more costs.
More than 100 mortgage lenders have approved our chosen panel solicitors. We can help you complete your Chester transaction smoothly.
Read more:
Conveyancing for buying a property
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
Approved by over 100 more
New Build Conveyancing
The legal work for purchasing a new build in Chester is more complicated than buying an existing property.
A solicitor in Chester must be able to deal with things like checking new build mortgage procedures are followed, ensuring compliance with planning regulations and checking new build warranties with warranty providers such as NHBC Buildmark, Advantage HCI and Castle.
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4.8 out of 5
When we factored in eveything that was included - this was the best quote we could find
Selling property in Chester
When selling a Chester house or flat, your conveyancing solicitor will prepare vital paperwork, including the draft contract and property information forms, and help you complete these forms. They will resolve any potential issues and respond to inquiries from the buyer's solicitor.
Your lawyer will coordinate with both sides, like agents, lenders and landlords, to confirm that the sale of your home is completed successfully.
Does a leasehold property take longer to sell?
Yes, compared to freehold conveyancing. Sale conveyancing for a leasehold property usually takes longer.
The buyer's conveyancer will expect to see several leasehold-related documents. These could include a current statement of service charges and a copy of buildings insurance for the common parts of the property. The time required by your solicitor to gather this paperwork is usually the cause of these delays.
It can take weeks to collect this information if the managing agent is slow or difficult to contact, so the solicitor should commence this as soon as possible.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgage in Chester
The Bank of England's current base rate is 5.25% (7 December, 2024)
Before you appoint a solicitor, you should confirm that your lawyer is able to act for your chosen lender.
We work with remortgage solicitors who are members of all major lenders' panels, so whether you are switching to a fixed rate mortgage from Metro Bank or taking out a 3-year tracker rate from Harpenden Building Society, we can help you.
Read more:
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Chester Transfer of equity
Whether you are taking over the share of another owner, dealing with inheritance tax planning or giving a property to a family member, you will need to work with a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to carry out a transfer of equity. Your property lawyer will quickly and efficiently complete the legal work for a guaranteed fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
How much do conveyancing solicitors fees cost in Chester?
Conveyancing fees
These fees are what your solicitor charges you for the legal services they provide during your property transaction. The conveyancing quote will detail the fees for the legal work, including VAT, that you'll pay when your transaction completes.
Disbursements
Disbursements are the payments incurred by your solicitor during the conveyancing process. Examples of disbursements include Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), HM Land Registry fees and property searches.
Check the T's & C's
If you are comparing conveyancing quotes, watch out for additional charges. Some firms set out additional charges in their terms and conditions. This can mean an inflated final bill.
