Residential Conveyancing Solicitors

A home is about safety and security. It is often your most valuable asset and one of the most significant financial commitments you will ever make. So it is important that any change – whether buying and selling a house or flat, remortgaging, investing in property or altering the legal ownership of a property – is legally watertight. That is why it pays to be advised by experienced residential conveyancing solicitors.

Chattertons has one of the largest teams of conveyancing solicitors in the region, advising clients across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and London. We are accredited by the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), which sets high standards for residential conveyancing practices. We are proud of our strong reputation locally and further afield for providing clear, practical and reliable conveyancing advice.

Having worked in the regional property market for many years, our team is well connected. Our property conveyancing solicitors and conveyancing lawyers have developed excellent working relationships with estate agents and mortgage lenders. These relationships can make a real difference in helping property transactions run smoothly and efficiently.

Get a conveyancing quote

Complete our conveyancing quote form, contact your local office or complete our online enquiry form to speak with one of our conveyancing solicitors.

Our Residential Conveyancing Services

Being a team of experienced property solicitors, we handle a comprehensive range of residential property-related matters, including:

• Buying and selling a property
• Investment properties
• Mortgages and remortgages
• Equity release
• Freehold family homes
• Gifts of property and transferring ownership
• Leases with and without a share of freehold
• Landlord and tenant matters
• Block and estate management
• Mixed use buildings
• Shared ownership
• New builds

Whether your transaction is straightforward or more complex, our residential conveyancing solicitors will guide you through every stage of the legal process.

And in collaboration with colleagues in Chattertons’ Construction, Property Litigation, Tax and Wealth Management teams, we can offer seamless advice on any matter arising out of your property transaction. This ensures that if wider issues arise – such as tax considerations, lease disputes or structural matters – you benefit from coordinated, specialist support under one roof.

Buying and Selling a Property

Buying and selling a property involves much more than agreeing a price. Contracts must be carefully drafted and reviewed, searches carried out, mortgage conditions satisfied and completion funds transferred accurately.

Our conveyancing solicitors manage the entire process from instruction through to exchange of contracts and completion. For buyers, we ensure the property has a good and marketable title and that you fully understand any restrictions or obligations affecting it. For sellers, we prepare the contract pack and respond promptly to enquiries to avoid unnecessary delays.

We appreciate that transactions can sometimes be affected by chains, survey issues or mortgage approvals. Our role is to keep you informed at every stage and work proactively to resolve any complications.

For support with buying or selling a property, please get in touch.

Investment Properties

For clients purchasing or refinancing investment properties, speed and certainty are often essential. We advise landlords and property investors on buy-to-let purchases, refinancing arrangements and portfolio acquisitions.

Whether you are acquiring a single rental property or expanding an established portfolio, our residential conveyancing solicitors ensure that title, tenancy arrangements and lender requirements are carefully reviewed.

Where refinancing is involved, we work efficiently to meet lender deadlines and minimise disruption to your rental income. Our aim is to provide clear, commercially focused advice so that you can make informed investment decisions with confidence.

Mortgages and Remortgages

If you are purchasing with the assistance of a mortgage, or remortgaging your existing property, lenders require strict compliance with their legal requirements. Our conveyancing lawyers ensure all lender conditions are satisfied while protecting your interests.

Our role is to ensure the process runs smoothly, that all legal documentation is properly explained, and that your transaction proceeds in a timely and coordinated manner.

For more information on mortgages and remortgaging, please get in touch.

Landlord and Tenant Matters

We also provide advice on landlord and tenant matters, including tenancy agreements, rights and responsibilities, and possession proceedings where required.

Our team advises landlords on drafting and reviewing tenancy agreements to ensure they are legally compliant and reflect your intentions. We provide guidance on statutory obligations, deposit protection requirements and evolving regulatory standards, helping you manage your property with clarity and confidence.

If you require support with landlord and tenant matters, please contact our team.

Equity Release

We also advise on equity release arrangements, explaining the long-term implications clearly so that you can make informed decisions about your financial future.

Equity release can enable you to unlock value tied up in your home, whether to supplement retirement income, fund improvements or support family members. However, these arrangements can have significant legal and financial consequences.

Our residential conveyancing solicitors guide you through the legal process for lifetime mortgages and other equity release products, ensuring lender requirements are met and that you understand the impact on your property, repayment terms and estate. We handle the transaction carefully and transparently, providing clarity and reassurance throughout.

Gifts of Property and Transferring Ownership

Property ownership may need to change without a sale taking place. This may arise following a relationship breakdown, as part of tax planning, or when gifting property to family members.

Our property conveyancing solicitors provide practical guidance on transfers of equity, joint ownership arrangements and declarations of trust, ensuring that all legal formalities are properly dealt with.

If you have any questions about gifts and transfer of property, our experts would be more than happy to help.

Leasehold, Shared Ownership and New Builds

Leasehold transactions can involve additional layers of complexity, including service charges, ground rent and management company arrangements. We review lease terms carefully and explain your rights and obligations in clear terms.

We also advise clients purchasing shared ownership properties, ensuring that you understand the structure of the scheme and your responsibilities to the housing association.

With new build properties, contracts are often exchanged before construction is complete. Our residential conveyancing solicitors review developer documentation thoroughly and advise you on completion deadlines and protections.

Block and Estate Management / Mixed Use Buildings

Where properties form part of a larger development or include both residential and commercial elements, additional legal considerations may arise.

Our team advises on service charge provisions, management structures, rights of way and restrictive covenants. By working closely with our wider property teams, we ensure that every aspect of your transaction is properly addressed.

Our Expertise

Chattertons is accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), the recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing. This demonstrates our commitment to high professional standards, integrity and client care, giving reassurance to buyers, sellers and lenders alike.

We combine a personal, approachable service with the strength of a nationally recognised firm. Chattertons is listed as a leading firm in The UK Legal 500 2025 and ranked in The Lawyer UK 200, placing us among the top 2% of UK law firms by size.

Our residential conveyancing solicitors are known for:

• Technical excellence
• Clear, straightforward advice
• Transparent fixed-fee pricing
• Proactive communication
• A personal and responsive service

We understand that conveyancing can feel complex and unfamiliar. That is why we work closely with you, keeping you informed at every stage and ensuring the process is handled efficiently and with as little stress as possible.

Clients often ask us…

How much does conveyancing cost?

Every transaction we carry out – whether it is a sale, purchase or remortgage – is undertaken for a fixed conveyancing cost agreed with you before we start work.

The amount will vary depending on the complexity of the matter and whether the property is freehold or leasehold. However, we promise a competitive rate and will never bill more than you have agreed to pay without discussing it with you first.

You can contact one of our conveyancing solicitors at your local Chattertons office to request a quotation.

I have a house to sell, and a house to buy. How long will this all take?

Between one and three months is about average for residential conveyancing from instruction to completion.

That said, matters can speed up or slow down depending on the type of transaction and the issues involved. Other buyers and sellers in your chain may be working at a different pace or may encounter difficulties that affect timing. It is important that your conveyancing solicitor keeps you informed throughout.

Do I have to get a buyer's survey?

You do not have to obtain a survey, but we strongly advise that you do.

A survey may identify actual or potential problems with the property. In some cases, buyers choose not to proceed – or renegotiate – following survey results.

It is important to remember that a lender’s valuation is not the same as a buyer’s survey. A mortgage valuation simply confirms that the property provides sufficient security for the loan. A survey, on the other hand, assesses the condition of the property and highlights defects you should be aware of.

I’m a first-time buyer looking to get on the property ladder. Is there any help available?

Various schemes may be available to assist first-time buyers, including shared ownership and other government-backed initiatives, subject to eligibility criteria.

Stamp Duty Land Tax relief may also be available depending on the purchase price. We will advise you on any reliefs that apply to your circumstances.

I’ve had an offer accepted on my dream house, but I am worried that the seller will change their mind. Can I do anything to stop this?

Until contracts are exchanged, either party may withdraw from the transaction.

Once exchange has taken place, the agreement becomes legally binding and a completion date is fixed. Withdrawal after exchange would usually amount to a breach of contract.

Completion is the stage at which the purchase price is transferred and ownership changes hands. It is only at completion that the deal is fully finalised.

How long does the average process take from instruction to completion?

Most residential conveyancing transactions complete within one to three months, although complex matters or lengthy chains can extend this timeframe.

Which property searches are essential, and which are optional?

Standard searches usually include:

• Local authority search
• Drainage and water search
• Environmental search

Additional searches may be recommended depending on the property’s location, such as mining or flood risk searches. Your lender may also require specific searches.

What is the difference between "freehold" and "leasehold"?

Freehold ownership means you own the property and the land outright (subject to any covenants).

Leasehold ownership means you have the right to occupy the property for a fixed number of years under a lease, often subject to service charges and ground rent.

What is the difference between "exchanging contracts" and "completion"?

Exchange of contracts is when the transaction becomes legally binding and a completion date is agreed.

Completion is when the funds are transferred and legal ownership changes hands.

What is Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) and who pays it?

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax payable on most property purchases in England and Northern Ireland. The amount depends on the purchase price and your personal circumstances.

We calculate any SDLT due, submit the necessary return and arrange payment to HMRC on your behalf as part of our conveyancing service.

Get a conveyancing quote

Complete our conveyancing quote form, contact your local office or complete our online enquiry form to speak with one of our conveyancing solicitors.