Conveyancing in Hitchin
Conveyancing is the legal process carried out by a solicitor to transfer the ownership of a property from one person to another. If you're looking for a conveyancing solicitor in Hitchin, you're in the right place. Get a fast & proactive solicitor from a nationwide panel of conveyancing experts.
We have helped Hitchin and Central Bedfordshire clients 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: St Albans, Stevenage, Watford and Welwyn Garden City
Buying property in Hitchin
A market town in Hertfordshire, Hitchin is known for its lavender fields, Hitchin British Schools Museum, and the nearby Chiltern Hills. Hitchin has a railway station, providing links to Cambridge and London. Hitchin has a population of approximately 34,000.
Council Tax in Hitchin (2023/24)
Hitchin is in Central Bedfordshire Council.
| Band | Amount |
|---|---|
| A | £1,446.51 |
| B | £1,687.59 |
| C | £1,928.67 |
| D | £2,169.76 |
| E | £2,651.93 |
| F | £3,134.10 |
| G | £3,616.27 |
| H | £4,339.52 |
What does a conveyancing solicitor do?
The conveyancing solicitor will handle all the legal elements of transferring ownership from the seller to the buyer.
Your lawyer will raise questions for the seller's solicitor, order searches, review the lease (if applicable) and complete any post-sale actions, like paying Stamp Duty Land Tax and registering the property ownership with the Land Registry.
Hitchin conveyancing solicitors may also undertake searches for contamination due to the area's industrial past.
Are you purchasing a home with a mortgage?
When you buy a house, your solicitor must also handle some legal work for the bank or building society that's giving you the mortgage. If your solicitor is not on your chosen lender's panel, your purchase could take significantly longer to complete.
Over 100 banks and building societies have approved our chosen partner solicitors, so we can help you complete your Hitchin 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 have also helped home buyers in Hitchin with conveyancing for:
Around half a million listed properties exist across the country, 2,018 of which are in Central Bedfordshire Council. Listed buildings and properties in and near to Hitchin include: Listed buildings come with complex rules that the owner must adhere to. Our specialist panel of solicitors will offer guidance on what commitments you are making as a listed building owner. Examples include use of traditional methods and materials for maintenance, required consent for any alterations and an obligation to protect significant internal features like fireplaces. Read more:Buying a listed building
New Build
The conveyancing process for acquiring a new build in Hitchin can be complicated compared to other types of conveyancing.
A property lawyer in Hitchin will need to be qualified to handle things like checking new build mortgage procedures are followed, ensuring new estate roads are adopted and registering ownership with warranty providers such as NHBC Buildmark, Advantage HCI and BOPAS.
Read more:
Buying a leasehold property
Buying a leasehold property in the UK can be very involved. The many potential traps awaiting the unsuspecting purchaser can include legally technical issues like unpaid service charges by the existing leaseholder 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?
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When we factored in eveything that was included - this was the best quote we could find
Selling property in Hitchin
When selling a property in Hitchin, your conveyancer will prepare the necessary documentation, including the various property information forms and the title deeds.
The lawyer will address potential issues, respond to inquiries from the buyer's solicitor and handle the mortgage redemption. By taking steps to coordinate with all parties, including agents, lenders and landlords, the solicitor will ensure the sale of your property completes without delay.
Does the conveyancing for selling leasehold take longer?
Yes. Sale conveyancing for a leasehold house or flat usually takes longer.
The buyer's conveyancer will need to review this leasehold-related paperwork, such as three years' filed accounts for the property management. The time it takes the seller's conveyancer to gather this paperwork is usually the cause of these delays.
It can take a long time to gather this information if it is difficult to contact the landlord or managing agent or they are slow to respond, so the seller's solicitor ought to start this process as soon as possible.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgage conveyancing in Hitchin
The official base rate is 4.5% (16 March, 2025)
Before instructing, your solicitor must be able to act for your chosen lender.
We work with remortgage solicitors who are approved members of the majority of mortgage lenders, so whether you are changing to an equity release mortgage with the Co-operative Bank or taking out a variable rate mortgage from Atom Bank, we can assist.
Read more:
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transferring Equity in Hitchin
If you plan to reduce or increase your ownership share of your property, whether you are dealing with inheritance tax planning, gifting a share of a property or adding a new partner, a transfer of equity is required. Your solicitor will complete all the necessary paperwork for a low, 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 Hitchin?
Legal fees
These fees are paid to your lawyer for the work they complete. Your conveyancing solicitor's quote should clearly detail the legal fees, including VAT, to be paid when the conveyancing transaction completes.
Disbursements
Disbursements are the payments incurred by your lawyer during the conveyancing process. Examples of disbursements include Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), HM Land Registry fees and property searches.
Check what's included in your quote
Some firms include extra costs in their terms and conditions, leading to an inflated final bill. Watch out for undisclosed fees not included in your original quote, if you are comparing quotes.
