Conveyancing in Harrogate
Conveyancing is the legal process of buying and selling property, where a solicitor ensures that the transfer of ownership complies with legal requirements. If you need a solicitor for conveyancing in Harrogate, we can help you with fast & proactive conveyancing from a national panel of conveyancing specialists.
We have helped clients in Harrogate and throughout North Yorkshire 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: Middlesbrough, Otley, Ripon, Wetherby and York
Buying property in Harrogate
A town in North Yorkshire, Harrogate is known for its Turkish Baths, Valley Gardens, and the nearby Yorkshire Dales. Harrogate has a railway station, providing links to York and Leeds. Harrogate has a population of approximately 75,000.
Council Tax in Harrogate (2023/24)
What does a Harrogate property lawyer do?
A conveyancer plays a pivotal role in a purchase.
The solicitor will order searches, raise questions for the seller, review contracts and handle post-completion tasks, like registering the property ownership with the Land Registry.
Harrogate conveyancing solicitors would also undertake checks for national Park-related issues (Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors) and flood risk checks.
Buying a home with a mortgage?
Whether you are buying a leasehold flat or purchasing a second home, your solicitor must also complete legal work for the bank arranging your mortgage. If your lawyer isn't accepted on your lender's panel, it could take weeks longer to buy your house.
Our chosen partner solicitors have established relationships with the majority of banks and building societies, from larger lenders like Metro Bank to Nottingham Building Society, facilitating a quicker completion of your transaction.
Read more:
Conveyancing for buying a property
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
We can assist Harrogate buyers with the legal work for:
When you purchase a property in a conservation area, your conveyancing solicitor will need to check for potential planning issues, e.g. replacement of original windows or conservation oversight. Conservation areas in Harrogate and across the North Yorkshire local authority include Kirkby Fleetham, Easingwold and Snape.Buying a property in a conservation area
There are around 500,000 listed buildings in England and Wales - around 2,470 of which are in Harrogate Borough Council. Listed buildings and properties in and around Harrogate include: Listed buildings come with complex rules that the owner must adhere to. Our specialist panel of property solicitors will clarify what commitments you are making as a listed building owner. Examples include use of traditional methods and materials for maintenance, consent for any alterations that might change the character of the property and an obligation to preserve or restore original windows and doors. Read more:Listed buildings
Buying a leasehold property
Purchasing a leasehold flat in the UK can be very involved. The many potential complications lying in wait for the unsuspecting buyer can include legally technical issues like undisclosed major works and onerous clauses in the lease.
A good property lawyer 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
Should I be wary of buying a leasehold house?
Should I buy a property with a short lease?
Selling a house or flat in Harrogate
As part of the property selling process in Harrogate, your conveyancer will assemble all essential documents, including the title deeds and property information forms.
The lawyer's duties entail answering the buyer's solicitor's enquiries and resolving any potential issues. By taking steps to work with both sides, including agents, managing agents and lenders, your lawyer will ensure the sale completes quickly.Could the sale of a leasehold property be delayed?
Compared to freehold property, yes. The conveyancing for selling leasehold houses or flats can result in long delays.
The solicitor acting for the buyer will need to review several leasehold-related documents, like a copy of buildings insurance for the common parts of the property and details of any breaches by other leaseholders. 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 these details if it is difficult to contact the landlord or managing agent, so your conveyancing solicitor should commence this before a buyer has even been found.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgaging
The base interest rate is 4.5% (18 February, 2025)
Don't forget to check your solicitor's lender panel membership before you instruct your solicitor.
We work with remortgage solicitors who can work on behalf of almost all building societies and banks. Whether you are switching to a fixed rate mortgage from HSBC or taking out a variable rate mortgage from Harpenden Building Society, we can help.
Read more:
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transferring Equity in Harrogate
Whether you are inheritance tax planning, buying out the equity of a joint owner or transferring the ownership of your property to a child, you will need a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to carry out a transfer of equity. Your lawyer will complete the legal work 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 Harrogate?
It only takes a minute to get a quote, but knowing what's actually included can be complex.
Legal fees
These fees are what your conveyancing solicitor charges you for the tasks they complete for you. The conveyancing quote should clearly detail the legal fees, including VAT, that you pay when the property transaction is complete.
Disbursements
The quote will include necessary third-party costs, called disbursements, such as Local authority searches, Stamp Duty or a pre-completion search.
Are the conveyancing fees fixed?
Some firms may include additional charges in the small print. This can lead to an inflated final bill. When comparing quotes, watch out for undisclosed fees missing from the original quote.