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Residential Conveyancing Solicitors

No matter what your circumstances may be, buying and/or selling your home or indeed completing a different type of conveyancing transaction is an exciting, yet stressful prospect. That’s why it’s essential to enlist the support and guidance of conveyancing experts who can provide a straightforward and practical service.

At Kingsfords, our residential property solicitors have a wealth of combined expertise and experience in handling a wide range of conveyancing matters not only in the Kent region but Nationwide, so we fully understand the pitfalls of a long distance move and how best to advise you.  

So, whether you’re simply looking to sell your home, raise some finance, or you just want to renegotiate an existing lease on a property, our team will be on hand to provide carefully tailored advice and support that ensures every detail is taken care of.

As a firm, our expertise in conveyancing matters has been recognised by the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme. This provides our clients assurance that we offer high quality legal advice and exemplary customer service.

Our expertise in residential conveyancing matters includes:

Speak to our residential conveyancing solicitors today

Speak to one of our residential conveyancing experts at our offices in Ashford, Cranbrook or Hythe today by calling 01233 624545 or fill in our enquiry form on the right hand side of the page to request a call back.

Our residential conveyancing expertise

Sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold properties

There are several key differences to buying and selling freehold and leasehold properties. While buying and selling a freehold property is relatively straightforward, as you own the property outright, leasehold properties are not so simple.

When you own a leasehold property, you only own what is specified in the lease and only for the term of that lease. When the lease ends, the property reverts to the landlord/freeholder. In addition, a leaseholder is usually required to pay an annual ground rent to the freeholder together with the Service Charges which reflect the cost to the Landlord/freeholder for the upkeep of the Building, this will also include the cost of any management company the landlord uses to manage the building and it is important that management of the building and the costs involved are established and you are fully aware of them before moving forward to exchange.

At Kingsfords, our Conveyancing Lawyers based in various office locations around Kent for our client convenience can provide expert advice in relation to all types of freehold and leasehold transactions, ensuring that everything goes ahead as smoothly as possible and without any unexpected complications.

Mortgages

As Kingsfords Solicitors are on most UK lenders panels we are, therefore, able to act for both our clients and the lender equally in purchases and mortgages. This removes the risk to the client of having to pay for two separate lawyers as not all conveyancers or solicitors are acceptable to lenders for various reasons.

Our conveyancers can provide legal advice in relation to all types of residential mortgages, including equity release products.

We can provide clear, practical guidance in relation to the terms of your mortgage and the best way to proceed, to ensure your mortgage is completed in a timely manner and as efficiently as possible.

Extending or Varying Leases

Leasehold ownership of a property is determined by a lease, which could be for a number of years, decades or centuries. It’s important to note that the length of a lease can have a significant bearing on the value of a property. Typically, the shorter the length of a lease, the lower the value and appeal to any future buyer.

Where your leasehold property has less than 80 years, you may find it difficult to sell or remortgage. If this is the case, you may want to negotiate with the landlord to secure an extension of the lease.

Our leasehold conveyancing solicitors can assist with lease extension either through:

  • Statutory lease extensions – exercising your right under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993, subject to certain criteria being met, or
  • Voluntary lease extensions/ lease extensions by agreement -  On many occasions, if it is not necessary to serve notice under the Act, it is often possible for the Landlord and Tenant to reach mutual agreement on the terms of the lease extension.

Enfranchisement

If you own a leasehold property, you may, together with other tenants have a legal right to purchase the freehold, so long as you fulfil certain criteria and are a qualifying tenant. Buying the freehold of a property means that you will be free from paying ground rent, you can self-manage the building and its maintenance and, importantly, your property will likely to be more appealing to a future buyer.

Our Conveyancing Lawyers can work alongside you to prepare the purchase of the freehold, (the enfranchisement), whether that’s through a formal or informal method.

Tenancy agreements

Disputes between landlords and tenants are, unfortunately, very common. Tenancy agreements are contracts between a landlord and tenant that governs the terms and conditions of the rental agreement and specifies each party’s rights and responsibilities.

To draw up a tenancy agreement, you will need the assistance of an experienced conveyancing solicitor, who will be able to review your situation and draw up an agreement that protects your best interests.

Our expert solicitors can also lend their expertise on other related issues, such as if the other party has breached an agreement, or whether you need advice on the process of repossession.

Other Areas of Property Law

Our experienced Conveyancing Lawyers can also assist you with other slightly different property transactions such as an Adverse Possession Claims, Auction Purchases, Land Purchases, Easements, Grazing Agreements, Mobile home purchases and Overage Agreements.

Frequently asked questions about conveyancing

What is conveyancing?

Simply put, conveyancing is the legal process of buying or selling property. Given how complex property transactions are, conveyancing tends to involve several different aspects, which need both specialist legal knowledge and administrative work.

Conveyancing work does not just apply to simple residential property transactions, either. It also covers many other aspects such as claims for adverse possession (Possessory Title), Upgrading of titles, Auction Purchases, Land Purchases, Easements, Grazing and Overage Clauses.

What does the conveyancing process involve?

The conveyancing process is likely to involve various steps, depending on your individual circumstances and the type of transaction you’re looking to complete.

The process may include, but is not limited to:

  • Instructing a conveyancing solicitor to act on your behalf
  • Conducting enquiries, searches and checks
  • Arranging a Survey if you require one
  • Securing a mortgage if you need one
  • Receiving and reading through your conveyancers report on the title.
  • Signing and exchanging contracts
  • Calculating residential property taxes such as Stamp Duty Land Tax and submission of the form and making payment.
  • Registering the deeds into your name and registering any charge there maybe.

What searches are involved in conveyancing?

If you’re buying a residential property, your conveyancer will likely carry out various searches that will be specific to the location of your chosen property; but the most common searches made are a Local Search, Environmental Search and a Water Search to ensure that everything is in order and that there is nothing that can be discovered that may impact on your lender or your decision to purchase that particular property.

This is by no means an exhaustive list and, depending on the type of property and where it is located, further checks may be required. Of course, if this is the case, your conveyancer will keep you advised.

How long does conveyancing take?

As you might expect, the time it takes to complete a conveyancing transaction depends on several interconnected factors.

The current national average for a conveyancing transaction, under normal circumstances,  is 12 and 14 weeks, but this timeframe can be far less if the chain is small with very straightforward properties. Likewise, it can also be extended if there are unforeseen additional delays somewhere along the property chain. 

Ultimately, the chain can only move as quickly as the slowest person in the chain. However, our conveyancers at Kingsfords always try to bring your matter to completion as quickly and as efficiently as they can and within your desired timeframes if this is practical and can be achieved within the chain. You should also speak to your conveyancer during the process as they should be able to give you a good understanding of expected timescales as your own transaction progresses.

Get in touch with our residential property solicitors

Speak to one of our conveyancing lawyers at any of our offices based in Ashford, Cranbrook or Hythe today by calling 01233 624545 or fill in our enquiry form on the right hand side of the page to request a call back.

  • Kellie Darke
      • Kellie Darke
      • Director (Licensed Conveyancer) & Head of Property
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  • Donna Trewerne
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  • John Edmonds
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  • Catherine Barnett
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  • Celia Willcock
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  • James Mackay
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For more information please call us on  01233 624545