Conveyancing in Harwich
Conveyancing is the legal work that ensures property is transferred from a seller to a buyer. If you're looking for a conveyancing solicitor in Harwich, you're in the right place. Get a fast & proactive solicitor from a nationwide panel of conveyancing experts.
We have helped clients in Harwich and throughout Tendring 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: Chelmsford, Ipswich and Southend On Sea
Buying property in Harwich
A town in Essex, Harwich is known for its maritime heritage, Harwich Redoubt, and the nearby Dovercourt Bay Beach. Harwich has two railway stations, providing links to Manningtree and London. Harwich has a population of approximately 15,000.
Council Tax in Harwich (2023/24)
Harwich is in Tendring District Council.
| Band | Amount |
|---|---|
| A | £1,332.40 |
| B | £1,554.47 |
| C | £1,776.53 |
| D | £1,998.60 |
| E | £2,442.73 |
| F | £2,886.87 |
| G | £3,331.00 |
| H | £3,997.20 |
What will my Harwich solicitor do?
A conveyancer assists the buyer with the legal side of transferring ownership from the seller to the buyer.
The solicitor will raise enquires of the seller, order property searches, review the contract of sale, and complete any post-sale actions, such as paying Stamp Duty Land Tax and HMLR registration.
In addition to standard searches, Harwich conveyancing solicitors may carry out flood risk assessments due to large low-lying areas, and potential for London's green belt issues.
Are you taking out a mortgage?
During the house buying process, your solicitor must also complete the legal work on behalf of the bank or building society that's giving you the mortgage.
If your solicitor is not on your bank or building society's panel, your purchase could take significantly longer to complete and also cost more.
Over 100 banks and specialist lenders have approved our chosen panel lawyers, so we can help you complete your Harwich 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
We can also assist Harwich home movers with the legal work for:
When purchasing a flat or house in a Harwich conservation area, your conveyancing solicitor will check for restrictions on how you can use the flat or house, which could include access rights, and street appearance restrictions. Conservation areas in Harwich and across the Tendring local authority include:Conservation areas
There exist around half a million listed properties across the country, 1,000 of which are in Tendring District Council. Listed buildings in and around Harwich include: There are many additional things to consider when buying a listed building. Examples of the duties that listed building owners face include use of traditional methods and materials for maintenance, consent required for energy efficient alterations and an obligation to maintain and preserve the property to prevent deterioration. Our expert conveyancing solicitor panel will clarify the legal duties your ownership will impose. Read more:Buying a listed building
Leasehold flats
Purchasing a leasehold property in the UK is significantly more complex than buying a freehold property. The many potential problems lying in wait for an uninformed purchaser can include legally technical issues like unpaid service charges by the existing leaseholder and unfair clauses in the lease.
A leasehold 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
Should I be wary of buying a leasehold house?
Should I buy a property with a short lease?
4.8 out of 5
When we factored in eveything that was included - this was the best quote we could find
Selling property in Harwich
The sale of property in Harwich will require your solicitor to first assemble all essential documents, including assorted property information forms and title deeds.
The duties of a seller's solicitor includes addressing snags like a neighbour dispute and answering enquiries from the buyer's solicitor.Your solicitor will coordinate with both sides, including agents, managing agents and lenders, so your move completes without delay.
Does a leasehold property take longer to sell?
Yes, it can take much more time to complete the legal work on a leasehold house or flat, compared to the sale of a freehold property.
The buyer's conveyancer must review several leasehold-related documents, such as an up-to-date statement of service charges. Delays are usually the result of the time needed by your lawyer to get these documents together.
Your solicitor should commence this as soon as possible, because this paperwork could take several weeks to collect if it is difficult to contact the managing agent or they are slow to respond.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgage in Harwich
Latest Bank of England base rate now at 4.5% (30 April, 2025)
Before you instruct a remortgage solicitor, you should confirm that your lawyer is able to act for your bank or building society.
We work with solicitors who can act for over 100 building societies and banks. Whether you are switching to an offset mortgage from Barclays or moving to a 10-year tracker rate with Chelsea Building Society, we can help take care of the legal side.
Read more:
Check our panel solicitors can act for your lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transfer of equity in Harwich
Whether you are buying out the equity of a joint owner, inheritance tax planning or transferring the ownership of your home to your daughter, son or other family member, you will need to work with a solicitor to handle the transfer of equity. Your lawyer will handle the legal side for a low, fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
How much does conveyancing cost in Harwich?
When you are comparing quotes, it isn't always easy to be certain you are comparing like to like.
Solicitors' fees
These fees are what your conveyancer charges you for the work they carry out on your behalf. Your conveyancing solicitor's quote should clearly detail the legal fees, including VAT, that you pay when the property transaction is complete.
Conveyancing disbursements
Your quote should also list any disbursements, which are costs paid to third parties on your behalf, including Stamp Duty and property searches.
Check the quote for hidden costs
When you compare conveyancing quotes, double-check for additional fees or charges. Some firms list extra charges in the small print. This can lead to a higher final bill.
