Conveyancing in West Malling
Conveyancing is the legal process involved when ownership of a property is transferred from the seller to the buyer. If you need a solicitor for conveyancing in West Malling, we can help you with fast & proactive conveyancing from a national panel of conveyancing specialists.
We have years of experience helping homemovers in West Malling and throughout Tonbridge and Malling handle their sale, purchase, buy-to-let, Help to Buy, Right to Buy, shared ownership, new build, leasehold, lease extensions, remortgage and transfer of equity.
Buying property in West Malling
A historic market town located in Kent, West Malling is packed with charm. Known for its boutique shops, eateries, and a wealth of historic buildings like St Leonard's Tower, the town offers a blend of rural and contemporary living.
West Malling's railway station provides easy connections to London Victoria, making it popular among commuters. This vibrant community with a rich history offers a relaxed lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Its population is around 2,500.
Council Tax in West Malling (2023/24)
West Malling is in Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.
Band | Amount |
---|---|
A | £1,444.47 |
B | £1,685.22 |
C | £1,925.96 |
D | £2,166.71 |
E | £2,648.20 |
F | £3,129.69 |
G | £3,611.18 |
H | £4,333.42 |
What do conveyancing solicitors do?
A conveyancing solicitor assists you with the legal aspect of a home purchase.
They will carry out comprehensive due diligence, including obtaining searches from authorities including Tonbridge & Malling Council, raising enquires, reviewing contracts of sale and HM Land Registry paperwork.
West Malling conveyancing solicitors could also undertake chalk mining searches.
Are you taking out a mortgage?
If you are buying a house or flat with a mortgage, your solicitor will check the property to confirm that the property is worth the loan that the lender will provide.
Your transaction could take significantly longer to complete if your property lawyer is not on your chosen mortgage provider's panel.Our chosen partner solicitors have established relationships with the majority of banks and building societies, helping to ensure your transaction completes faster.
Read more:
Conveyancing for buying a property
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
We can help buyers in West Malling with conveyancing for:
When buying a home in a conservation area, your lawyer will need to check for potential planning breaches, including roof maintenance restrictions or missing consents for replacement doors. Conservation areas in West Malling and across the Tonbridge and Malling local authority include:Buying in a conservation area
There are about half a million listed properties across the country, 1,345 of which are in Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. Listed buildings in and around West Malling include: Owning a listed building brings its own set of challenges. Our specialist panel of property solicitors will offer guidance on what duties your ownership will impose. Examples include regular upkeep, consent required for energy efficient alterations and a duty to report finds or discoveries on the property. Read more:Buying a listed building
Leasehold flats
Purchasing a leasehold house or flat requires a number of extra steps when compared to buying a freehold. The many potential problems lying in wait for an uninformed buyer can include legally technical issues like and unreasonable lease extension premiums.
Your conveyancing 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?
Selling a property in West Malling
When you're looking to sell a house or flat in West Malling, you can expect your conveyancer to first prepare vital paperwork, including title deeds and assorted property information forms, and help you complete these forms.
The lawyer will handle questions from the buyer's side, sort out potential snags and handle the mortgage redemption. The solicitor will work with both sides, like agents, lenders and landlords, confirming that the sale of your home completes without a hitch.Does a leasehold property take longer to sell?
Compared to freehold property, yes. The legal work for selling a leasehold home can be seriously delayed.
The buyer's solicitor must review this leasehold-related paperwork. These could include three years' filed accounts for the property management and a copy of the freehold property's buildings insurance. The time needed by to get these documents together is commonly the source of delays.
It could take several weeks to collect the managing agent's information if the agent responsible for managing the property is slow or difficult to contact, so your conveyancing solicitor ought to start this process at the earliest opportunity.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgage conveyancing in West Malling
The Bank of England's current base rate is 5.25% (12 October, 2024)
Before you instruct a remortgage solicitor, it's important that you check your remortgage solicitor's lender panel status.
Our partner panel solicitors can act for over 100 lenders, so whether you are switching to an offset mortgage from Leeds Building Society or moving to a first time buyer mortgage with Bluestone, our panel solicitors can guide you through the remortgage process.
Read more:
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transferring Equity
Whether you are buying out another part-owner, transferring the ownership of your home to your daughter, son or other family member or tax planning for the future, a transfer of equity is required. Your solicitor will complete all the necessary paperwork for a guaranteed fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
Conveyancing costs in West Malling: What to expect
Conveyancing fees
These legal fees are paid to your solicitor for the work they carry out on your behalf. The conveyancing quote should clearly detail the legal fees, including VAT, to be paid when the conveyancing transaction completes.
Disbursements (costs payable to third parties)
A disbursement is a cost that your solicitor must pay to a third party for a tax or additional service. Examples of disbursements include Local authority searches, Stamp Duty or a British waterways search.
Check the quote for hidden costs
Beware of extra fees, if you are comparing conveyancing quotes. Some solicitors' quotes set out additional charges in their terms and conditions. This can lead to a total cost that's much higher than the initial quote.