Conveyancing in Rochester
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 Rochester, you're in the right place. Get a fast & proactive solicitor from a nationwide panel of conveyancing experts.
We have helped clients in Rochester and throughout Medway 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, Gravesend and Medway
Buying property in Rochester
A historic city in Kent, Rochester is known for its stunning castle, cathedral, and links to Charles Dickens. With its charming high street, annual Dickensian Christmas festival, and excellent rail links to London, it offers a blend of history and modern convenience. The city has a population of approximately 62,000.
Council Tax in Rochester (2023/24)
Rochester 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 does a Rochester conveyancing solicitor do?
Your property lawyer will handle the legal aspects of the transaction. They will order searches, raise enquires of the seller, review the contract of sale, and take care of tasks after the sale, like HMLR registration.
In addition to standard searches, Rochester conveyancing solicitors may carry out chalk mining searches.
Purchasing a home with a mortgage?
When you buy a property with a mortgage, the bank or building society will verify that the property meets their mortgage criteria.
If your lawyer isn't accepted on your bank or building society's panel, it may take many weeks longer to complete the purchase.
Our chosen partner solicitors have established relationships with the majority of building societies, banks and lenders, such as Santander, Gatehouse and Principality Building Society - 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
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We can also assist Rochester buyers with conveyancing for:
When buying a home in a Rochester conservation area, your solicitor will check for restrictive covenants, e.g. footpath rights, and restrictions on property usage. Conservation areas in Rochester and across the Medway local authority include Halling, Rainham, Cliffe, Meresborough and St Mary Hoo.Buying a home in a conservation area
Roughly half a million listed buildings exist in England and Wales, and around 720 of which are in Medway Council. Listed buildings in and around Rochester include: There are many additional things to consider when buying a listed building. Examples of the duties that listed building owners face include a duty to maintain the exterior appearance, required consent for any alterations and a requirement to use original or historically appropriate materials. Our expert solicitor panel will clarify the commitments a listed building owner must make. Read more:Listed buildings
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When we factored in eveything that was included - this was the best quote we could find
Selling property in Rochester
At the start of the property selling process in Rochester, your solicitor will prepare the necessary documentation, including the title deeds and the various property information forms, and will help you answer these forms.
The conveyancer's duties entail addressing snags like a dispute with a neighbour, responding to the buyer's solicitor's enquiries and taking charge of the mortgage redemption.
The solicitor will work with all parties, like estate agents and banks or building societies, so the sale is completed without incident.
Does sale conveyancing take longer for leasehold?
Yes. The conveyancing for selling a leasehold property usually takes longer.
The buyer's conveyancer will expect to see these documents, such as details of any breaches by other leaseholders. Delays are usually caused by the time needed by to source this information.
The solicitor ought to start this process even before a sale has been agreed, because this paperwork can take a long time to gather if it is difficult to contact the managing agent.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgaging a property in Rochester
The Bank of England's current base rate is 5.25% (19 April, 2024)
Before you appoint a solicitor, your solicitor must be able to act for your chosen mortgage lender.
Our partner panel solicitors are on the panels of almost all banks and building societies. Whether you are changing to a discount mortgage with the Co-operative Bank or taking out a 3-year tracker rate from Cynergy Bank, we can help take care of the legal side.
Read more:
Check our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transfer of equity
Whether you are adding a new partner to your property's title, transferring the ownership of your home to your daughter, son or other family member or tax planning for the future, you'll need a transfer of equity specialist.
Your solicitor can handle the legal work for a guaranteed fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
How much are conveyancing fees in Rochester?
Legal fees
The quote will set out the legal fees (inc. VAT) that you'll pay when your transaction completes. These fees are what your conveyancer charges you for the tasks they complete during your property transaction.
Conveyancing disbursements
Disbursements are third-party costs paid by your solicitor on your behalf. Third-party disbursements include Local authority searches, Stamp Duty or TT fees.
Check the terms and conditions
Some firms may include additional charges in their terms and conditions. This can lead to an inflated final bill. Watch out for additional charges, when comparing quotes.
