Conveyancing in Totnes
Conveyancing is the legal process of buying and selling a property, involving the work a solicitor does to investigate the property, handle mortgage requirements and register the new owner. If you need a solicitor for conveyancing in Totnes, we can help you with fast & proactive conveyancing from a national panel of conveyancing specialists.
We have helped Totnes and South Hams 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: Brixham, Dartmouth, Newton Abbot and Plymouth
Buying property in Totnes
A market town in Devon, Totnes is known for its vibrant arts scene, a range of independent shops, and historic Totnes Castle. The town has a strong focus on environmental issues and sustainable living.
Totnes railway station provides services to Exeter and Plymouth, and the A38 provides good road links. The town has a population of approximately 8,000.
Council Tax in Totnes (2023/24)
Totnes is in South Hams District Council.
| Band | Amount |
|---|---|
| A | £1,507.46 |
| B | £1,758.70 |
| C | £2,009.94 |
| D | £2,261.19 |
| E | £2,763.68 |
| F | £3,266.16 |
| G | £3,768.65 |
| H | £4,522.38 |
What does a Totnes conveyancing solicitor do?
For a property purchase, the conveyancing solicitor will handle all the legal elements of buying a property. They will raise questions for the seller's solicitor, order property searches, review the contract of sale, and fulfil post-completion formalities, such as paying Stamp Duty.
Further to the standard checks and searches, Totnes conveyancing solicitors could also undertake checks for issues related to flood risk, radon and tin mining searches.
Are you taking out a mortgage?
When buying with a mortgage, it is normal for your solicitor to also act for the bank or building society that's giving you the mortgage.
If your lawyer isn't accepted on your mortgage provider's panel, it may take weeks longer to purchase your property.We work with solicitors who can represent the vast majority of banks and building societies, helping to facilitate a faster completion for your purchase.
Read more:
Conveyancing for buying a property
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
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We can also help Totnes buyers with conveyancing for:
#VALUE!
Around 500,000 listed properties exist in England and Wales - around 3,250 of which are in South Hams District Council. Totnes listed buildings and properties include: Buying and owning a listed building can be a lot more complicated. Our expert conveyancing solicitor panel will help you understand the obligations imposed by listed property ownership. Examples include use of traditional methods and materials for maintenance, and required consent for any alterations. Read more:Listed buildings
New Build Conveyancing
The legal work for acquiring a new build in Totnes can be more complex than that required to purchase a pre-owned property.
A good solicitor in Totnes must be able to deal with things like dealing with lender conditions, spotting incomplete agreements for roads and sewers and registering ownership with warranty providers, including NHBC Buildmark, Advantage HCI and Ark Residential.
Read more:
4.8 out of 5
When we factored in eveything that was included - this was the best quote we could find
Selling a house or flat in Totnes
When selling a home in Totnes, your solicitor will assemble all essential documents, including the contract of sale and property information forms, and help you complete these forms. The conveyancer will address potential issues and reply to the buyer's solicitor's inquiries. The solicitor will work with both sides, like agents, lenders and landlords, confirming that the property sale completes as soon as possible.
Does it take longer to sell a leasehold property?
Compared to freehold property, yes. Sale conveyancing for a leasehold house or flat can take much longer.
The solicitor acting for the buyer will want to see this leasehold-related paperwork, 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 the seller's conveyancer to gather this paperwork is commonly the source of delays.
The solicitor should commence this at the earliest opportunity, as the managing agent's information can take weeks to collect if the landlord or managing agent 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 Totnes
Latest Bank of England base rate now at 4.5% (28 April, 2025)
Before you instruct, your solicitor needs to be able to act on your chosen lender's behalf.
Quittance panel solicitors can act for over 100 lenders, so whether you are switching to a 5-year fixed rate from Nationwide or taking out a home reversion mortgage from Darlington Building Society, our panel solicitors can guide you through the remortgage process.
Read more:
Check our panel solicitors can act for your lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transferring Equity in Totnes
Whether you are transferring the ownership of your property to a child, adding a new partner to your property's title or inheritance tax planning, you'll need a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to carry out a transfer of equity. Your property lawyer will handle all the required documentation and register the new interest at HM Land Registry for a fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
How much does conveyancing cost in Totnes?
Getting a conveyancing quote takes moments - but understanding what is and isn't included in the quote can be challenging.
Legal fees
These fees are what your solicitor charges you for the tasks they complete during your transaction. The conveyancing quote will detail the fees for the legal work, including VAT, that you pay when the property transaction is complete.
Disbursements (third party costs)
Your conveyancing quote should also itemise required third-party costs, or disbursements, such as Stamp Duty, property searches and a bankruptcy search.
Are the conveyancing fees fixed?
Some firms set out additional charges in their terms and conditions, leading to a higher final bill. Beware of hidden charges not mentioned in the initial conveyancing quote, when comparing quotes.
