Conveyancing in Chatham
When you buy, sell or remortgage a property, a solicitor or licensed conveyancer will handle the legal work. If you need a solicitor for conveyancing in Chatham, we can help you with fast & proactive conveyancing from a national panel of conveyancing specialists.
We have helped Chatham and Medway 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: Gillingham, Rochester and Sittingbourne
Buying property in Chatham
A town in Kent, Chatham is known for the Historic Dockyard Chatham, a maritime museum, and Fort Amherst. The Davis Estate area is highly sought after. Chatham has a railway station, providing links to London and the Kent coast. Chatham has a population of approximately 76,000.
Council Tax in Chatham (2023/24)
Chatham is in Medway Council.
| Band | Amount |
|---|---|
| A | £1,339.04 |
| B | £1,562.21 |
| C | £1,785.38 |
| D | £2,008.56 |
| E | £2,454.91 |
| F | £2,901.25 |
| G | £3,347.60 |
| H | £4,017.12 |
What do Chatham conveyancing solicitors do?
During the home purchase, your solicitor will address all the legal details of buying a property.
The solicitor will raise questions for the seller's solicitor, order property searches, review contracts and fulfil post-completion formalities, like paying SDLT and registering the property ownership with the Land Registry.
Chatham conveyancing solicitors would also undertake chalk mining searches.
Are you purchasing a home with a mortgage?
If you are getting a mortgage, your solicitor will also need to act for your lender.
Panel approval means your solicitor can act on behalf of your lender.
Our chosen panel lawyers have established relationships with the majority of banks and specialist lenders, from larger lenders like Barclays to Nottingham Building Society, 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 assist buyers in Chatham with the conveyancing for:
When you buy a house or flat in a conservation area, your conveyancing solicitor will need to check for covenants and restrictions, which could include noise level restrictions or access rights. Conservation areas in Chatham and across the Medway local authority include Lower Twydall, Watts Avenue and Roebuck Road, Rainham and Meresborough.Conservation area
There are more than half a million listed properties across the country, and around 720 of which are in Medway Council. Chatham listed buildings and properties include: Listed properties can be a joy to own, but they come with their share of complexities. Our experienced panel of solicitors will offer guidance on the legal duties your ownership will impose. Examples include use of traditional methods and materials for maintenance, and required consent for any alterations. Read more:Listed buildings
Leasehold flats
Almost all flats are leasehold. Leasehold houses are less common, but there are still an estimated 1 million such properties across the country. The conveyancing for a leasehold flat will usually take more time than a freehold house because there is more work involved.
Causes of numerous delays can range from slow receipt of the managing agent information to an absent freeholder.
Our specialist leasehold solicitor team complete the legal work for 100's of leasehold purchases each month, and our proactive approach means delays are less likely to occur.
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When we factored in eveything that was included - this was the best quote we could find
Selling a property in Chatham
When you're looking to sell homes in Chatham, you can expect your conveyancer to first assemble all essential documents, including the various property information forms and the sale contract.
A seller's solicitor's duties include responding to the buyer's solicitor's enquiries and resolving issues like a dispute with a neighbour.Your solicitor will coordinate with all parties, including estate agents, landlords and lenders, confirming that the home move completes quickly.
Does a leasehold property take longer to sell?
Compared to freehold property, yes. The conveyancing for selling a leasehold home can result in long delays.
The solicitor acting for the buyer must review this leasehold-related paperwork, including a copy of buildings insurance for the common parts of the property. The time needed by the solicitor to gather this paperwork is the common cause of such delays.
Your solicitor should commence this as soon as possible, as this information could take several weeks to collect if the managing agent or landlord 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 Chatham
The current Bank of England base rate is 5.25% (25 April, 2024)
Before you appoint a solicitor, you will need to check that your conveyancing solicitor can act for your chosen mortgage lender.
Quittance panel solicitors are on the panels of almost all building societies and banks. Whether you are changing to a fixed rate mortgage with Bank of Scotland or taking out a home reversion mortgage from Coventry Building Society, 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 lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transferring Equity in Chatham
Whether you are buying out an ex-spouse after a divorce, inheritance tax (IHT) planning or gifting a home, a transfer of equity is required. Your conveyancer 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
Conveyancing costs in Chatham: What to expect
What is and is not included in a conveyancing quote online isn't always clear at first glance.
Legal fees
The quote will detail the fees for the legal work, including VAT, that you'll pay when your transaction completes. These fees are paid to your conveyancing solicitor for the work they complete on your behalf.
Disbursements (costs payable to third parties)
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 Stamp Duty, property searches and a gypsum search.
Are the conveyancing fees fixed?
When comparing quotes, beware of hidden charges not mentioned in the initial conveyancing quote. Some firms may set out extra costs in their terms and conditions, leading to a higher-than-expected final bill.
