AldgateChambers Solicitors
0161 566 3492020 4577 3395
Services

Conveyancing & Property

Property transactions handled carefully, with the cost set out before we start.

How we help

Property transactions handled carefully, with the cost set out before we start. Your matter is handled by a solicitor who knows the file, so the person advising you is the person you speak to.

Select any of the areas below to see what that work involves.

Grant of a new lease
Preparing or reviewing a new lease and negotiating its terms, for landlords and for tenants.
Assignment — purchase or sale
Transferring an existing lease to a buyer, including the landlord’s consent and any licence to assign.
Lease work for landlords
Acting for landlords granting leases, including drafting, negotiation and the accompanying paperwork.
Notice of assignment
Serving the formal notice on the landlord or management company once a transfer has completed.
Land Registry applications
Registering the transaction so that your ownership is properly recorded at the Land Registry.
Stamp Duty Land Tax returns
Preparing and submitting the SDLT return within the deadline, and advising on what is payable.
Searches and pre-contract enquiries
Raising and reviewing the searches and enquiries that reveal what you are actually buying.

How the process works

Every matter is different, but most follow broadly these stages. We will tell you at the outset which apply to you and roughly how long each takes.

  1. Taking instructions and checks

    We confirm what you are buying, selling or leasing, agree the fee in writing, and carry out the identity and source-of-funds checks the law requires.

  2. Contract papers and enquiries

    We review the contract, title and lease, raise pre-contract enquiries and report to you on anything that affects the property.

  3. Searches

    We carry out the searches appropriate to the property and explain what they reveal before you are committed.

  4. Exchange of contracts

    Once you are satisfied and funding is in place, contracts are exchanged and the completion date becomes binding.

  5. Completion and registration

    We complete the transaction, submit the SDLT return, and register the change of ownership at the Land Registry.

What we will need from you

Having these to hand at the first appointment saves time and cost. Do not worry if something is missing — we will tell you how to obtain it.

  • Photo identification and proof of address
  • Evidence of where your funds are coming from
  • Details of your lender, if you are borrowing
  • The estate agent’s details and the memorandum of sale
  • For a leasehold property, the lease and any management pack
  • Details of anyone who will be named on the title with you

Fees for this work

Most of this work is done for a fixed fee agreed in writing before we start.

Grant of a new lease£1,400
Assignment (purchase or sale)£1,200
Lease — work for landlord£1,800
Notice of assignment£150
Land Registry application work£150
SDLT return work£150

Disbursements — court, tribunal and Home Office fees, and any experts or interpreters — are payable in addition. See the full fees page for the complete list.

Common questions

How long does a transaction take?
It varies considerably. Straightforward matters can move quickly; leasehold properties and chains take longer because they depend on third parties — landlords, management companies, lenders and other parties’ solicitors. We will give you a realistic estimate once we have seen the papers.
What are disbursements?
They are costs payable to other people rather than to us — search fees, Land Registry fees, and Stamp Duty Land Tax. They are separate from our fee and depend on the property and the transaction.
Do I have to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax?
It depends on the price, the type of property, and your circumstances — for example whether you already own another property or are a first-time buyer. We will calculate what is payable and submit the return within the deadline.
Why does leasehold cost more?
There is simply more to do. The lease has to be reviewed, a management pack obtained, ground rent and service charge apportioned, and notice of the transfer served on the landlord after completion.

The law changes. This page is general information, not advice on your situation. We will advise you on the rules as they stand when you instruct us.

Get in touch

Tell us about your matter.

London 020 4577 3395 · Manchester 0161 566 3492
info@acsolicitors.org

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