Conveyancing in Watford
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of property from one person to another, including the preparation and execution of the legal documents, and the registration of the new ownership. If you're looking for a conveyancing solicitor in Watford, you're in the right place. Get a fast & proactive solicitor from a nationwide panel of conveyancing experts.
We have helped clients in Watford and throughout Hertfordshire 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: Kings Langley, Potters Bar, Rickmansworth and Welwyn Garden City
Buying property in Watford
Watford lies 15 miles north-west of central London in Hertfordshire and is a major regional centre for the Home Counties, with several large organisations choosing to locate their head offices in the town.
Despite its proximity to London, house prices are generally more affordable than other similarly proximate towns, but this may change once the proposed Croxley Rail Link (an extension to the Metropolitan Line) is completed, making access to stations easier.
New developments of flats have made North Watford and West and Central Watford ideal for first-time buyers, and the pleasant outlying districts of Bushey, Leavesden & Garston are popular with families.
Council Tax in Watford (2023/24)
| Band | Amount |
|---|---|
| A | £1,422.99 |
| B | £1,660.15 |
| C | £1,897.31 |
| D | £2,134.48 |
| E | £2,608.81 |
| F | £3,083.14 |
| G | £3,557.47 |
| H | £4,268.96 |
What do conveyancing solicitors do?
The conveyancing solicitor will handle all the legal elements of buying a home. They will carry out comprehensive due diligence, such as ordering searches from authorities such as Watford Council, raising enquires of the seller and registering your ownership of the property.
Watford conveyancing solicitors would also undertake checks for contamination due to the area's industrial past.
Are you buying a property with a mortgage?
During the conveyancing process, your solicitor also has to take care of legal matters for the bank or building society that's giving you the mortgage. Panel approval will mean your solicitor can act on behalf of your bank.
Our chosen partner solicitors have established relationships with the majority of mortgage lenders, such as major banks like HSBC, to smaller lenders like Coventry Building Society and AIB - 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
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We can also assist Watford home buyers with the conveyancing for:
There are over 500,000 listed properties across the country - around 90 of which are in Watford Borough Council. Watford listed buildings and properties include: Listed properties can be a joy to own, but they come with their share of complexities. Examples of the duties faced by listed property owners include consent for additions like satellite dishes or external lighting, and . Our specialist panel of solicitors will explain to you the commitments a listed building owner must make. Read more:Listed buildings
Shared ownership (sometimes referred to as shared equity) involves purchasing a share (normally 25%, 50% or 75%) of a property from a not-for-profit housing association. Shared ownership conveyancing is more involved, because contracts are more complex and may contain restrictive covenants. With extensive specialist experience, our expert panel of solicitors can help you with your shared ownership purchase or staircasing.Shared Ownership
New Build
The conveyancing process for acquiring a new build property in Watford your lender's mortgage requirements.
An experienced solicitor in Watford must be able to deal with things like dealing with delays associated with off-plan, working to builders' exchange timelines and your lender's mortgage requirements.
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Buying a leasehold property
Buying a leasehold flat in the UK requires a number of extra steps when compared to buying a freehold. The many potential traps awaiting the unsuspecting purchaser can include legally technical issues like undisclosed major works and excessive freehold premiums.
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
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When we factored in eveything that was included - this was the best quote we could find
Selling a property in Watford
When selling property in Watford, your conveyancer will compile key documents, including title deeds and property information forms, and help you fill out these forms.
The conveyancer's duties entail responding to the buyer's solicitor's enquiries, overcoming hurdles such as lack of consent for alterations and taking charge of the mortgage redemption.
By taking action to coordinate with all stakeholders, like estate agents and banks or building societies, your solicitor will help make sure your sale of your property completes without a hitch.
Does it take longer to sell a leasehold property?
Yes, compared to freehold conveyancing. Sale conveyancing for leasehold houses or flats can result in long delays.
The buyer's solicitor must review this leasehold-related paperwork, like a copy of buildings insurance for the common parts of the property and an up-to-date statement of service charges. The time required by to get these documents together is commonly the source of delays.
The seller's solicitor should get this underway before a buyer has even been found, as this paperwork could take several weeks to collect if the 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
Latest Bank of England base rate now at 4.5% (30 April, 2025)
Before you appoint a solicitor, your solicitor must be able to act for your lender.
Our remortgage panel solicitors are on the panels of almost all banks and building societies. Whether you are switching to a 2-year fixed rate from Santander or moving to a guarantor mortgage with Aviva, our experienced conveyancing team can guide you through the remortgage process.
Read more:
Check our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transfer of equity
Whether you are tax planning for the future, gifting a property or changing the legal ownership structure, you'll need to carry out a transfer of equity. Your solicitor will deal with the legal work for a guaranteed fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
What are typical Watford conveyancing fees?
Conveyancing fees
Your conveyancing solicitor's quote should clearly detail the legal fees, including VAT, that you'll pay when your transaction completes. These fees are what your conveyancing solicitor charges you for the legal work that they complete on your behalf.
Disbursements
A disbursement is a cost that your conveyancing solicitor must pay to a third party for a tax or additional service. Third-party disbursements include Local authority searches, Stamp Duty or a bankruptcy search.
Check the quote for hidden costs
If you are comparing conveyancing quotes, double-check for additional fees or charges. Some solicitors' quotes may set out extra costs in their terms and conditions. This can lead to a total cost that's much higher than the initial quote.
