Conveyancing in Southampton
Conveyancing is the legal transfer of a property from a seller to a buyer. handled by a solicitor or licenced conveyancer. If you need a solicitor for conveyancing in Southampton, we can help you with fast & proactive conveyancing from a national panel of conveyancing specialists.
We have helped clients in Southampton and throughout Hampshire 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: Basingstoke, Fareham, Portsmouth, Romsey and Winchester
Buying property in Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in Hampshire and a major port, particularly for cruise ships. The docks have long been a major employer in the city and it remains the largest freight port on the Channel coast, with several container terminals. Southampton is home to the headquarters of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Ordnance Survey.
New industry has been attracted to the city, including aircraft manufacture, cables, electrical engineering products, and petrochemicals. With the New Forest National Park just a short journey to the west, the area is popular with families and the city has seen property values increasing by nearly 8%, one of the highest rises in the UK.
Council Tax in Southampton (2023/24)
| Band | Amount |
|---|---|
| A | £1,372.24 |
| B | £1,600.95 |
| C | £1,829.65 |
| D | £2,058.36 |
| E | £2,515.77 |
| F | £2,973.19 |
| G | £3,430.60 |
| H | £4,116.72 |
What will my solicitor do?
A solicitor guides the buyer through the legal aspects of buying a home.
The solicitor will raise enquires of the seller, order searches, review the lease (if applicable) and take care of tasks after the sale, like registering the property ownership with the Land Registry.
Southampton conveyancing solicitors would also undertake flood risk searches.
Are you purchasing a home with a mortgage?
When buying with a mortgage, it is a requirement for your solicitor to also act for the bank or building society that's giving you the mortgage.
If your conveyancer isn't accepted on your bank or building society's panel, it could take weeks longer to buy your house.More than 100 banks and specialist lenders have approved our chosen panel lawyers. We can help you complete your Southampton 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 buyers in Southampton with conveyancing for:
There are more than half a million listed buildings across the country - around 370 of which are in Southampton City Council. Listed buildings in and around Southampton include: Owning a listed building brings its own set of challenges. Our expert conveyancing solicitor panel will advise you on what commitments you are making as a listed building owner. Examples include regular upkeep, and consent required for energy efficient alterations. Read more:Buying a listed building
Buying a property through a shared ownership scheme involves acquiring only a share of a property. While it's a great option for buying your first home, buying and owning a shared ownership property is more complex, as all properties are leasehold. Whether you are buying a shared ownership property or staircasing, our panel of specialist solicitors will help you complete the procedure.Shared Ownership Conveyancing
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Selling a property in Southampton
When selling a property in Southampton, your solicitor will prepare the necessary documentation, including the contract of sale and property information forms, and help you complete these forms. Their role involves addressing snags like an absent freeholder and answering the buyer's solicitor's enquiries.
In order to facilitate a faster completion, your conveyancing solicitor will also coordinate with both sides, such as agents, managing agents and lenders.
Does it take longer to sell a leasehold property?
Compared to freehold property, yes. Sale conveyancing for leasehold properties usually takes longer.
The solicitor acting for the buyer will expect to see several leasehold-related documents, like management company information and a current statement of service charges. The time it takes the solicitor to source this information is the common cause of such delays.
Your solicitor should start this process even before you have found a buyer, as this information can take a long time to gather if the agent responsible for managing the property is slow or difficult to contact.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgage conveyancing in Southampton
The current Bank of England base rate is 5.25% (17 January, 2025)
You should check your lawyer's lender panel membership before you instruct your solicitor.
Our remortgage panel solicitors are panel members for all major lenders, so whether you are changing to a 5-year fixed rate with Yorkshire Building Society or moving to an interest only mortgage with Investec Bank, our panel solicitors will make the process as simple and stress-free as possible.
Read more:
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transferring Equity in Southampton
Whether you are estate planning, adding a new partner or transferring the ownership of a property (in part or in full) to your children, you'll need the help of a conveyancer to handle the transfer of equity.
Your property lawyer will complete all the necessary paperwork for a fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
How much are solicitors' conveyancing fees in Southampton?
It only takes a minute to get a conveyancing quote, but knowing what's actually included can be complex.
Legal fees
These fees are what your lawyer charges you for the work they complete during your transaction. Your solicitor's quote will detail the fees for the legal work, including VAT, that you pay when the property transaction is complete.
Disbursements (costs payable to third parties)
Your conveyancing quote should also itemise required third-party costs, or disbursements, including Stamp Duty and Land Registry fees.
Is it a fixed fee quote?
Some firms include extra costs in the small print. This can lead to an inflated final bill. Watch out for undisclosed fees not included in your original quote, if you are comparing conveyancing quotes.
