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Find a Lender-Approved Local Conveyancer in Chester

Ready to buy a new home? Find a law firm approved by your lender.

Follow your intuition—you will have a better house move where you instruct a high street solicitor in Chester

Chester Conveyancing Statistics*

  • 1 Percentage of cases in Chester that are buy to let is 14%
  • 2 Average Land Registry Fee for last year was £270
  • 3 June was the busiest month and April was the next busiest month while October was the least busiest month of the year for conveyancing in Chester
  • 4 Average time from start to completion was 73 days for conveyancing in Chester
  • 5 Average Stamp Duty Payable for last year was £3,332

Examples of recent conveyancing in Chester since October 2021*

street view

Disposal

of terraced residence, Gladstone Avenue, CH1 4JX completing on 08/10/2021 at a price of £240,000. The legal transfer of property incorporates some of the following tasks: sending conveyancing papers to buyers representatives, taking formal instructions from and updating the seller client, sending title deeds and signed transfer to purchaser’s solicitor

street view

Sale

of semi property, Panton Place, CH2 3JE completing on 15/10/2021 at a price of £300,000. The conveyancing process incorporates some of the following tasks: dealing with appropriate requisitions and enquiries, sending the transfer to the seller for execution in readiness for completion, setting up the completion formalities

street view

Sale

of terraced premises, Chapel Lane, LL12 0EE completing on 08/10/2021 at a price of £230,000. The conveyancing process included amongst the various tasks: dealing with appropriate requisitions and enquiries, preparing statement detailing charges, sending title deeds and executed transfer to purchaser’s lawyers

street view

Disposal

of terraced property, Exeter Road, CH65 8AW completing on 08/10/2021 at a price of £87,000. The legal transfer of property included amongst the various tasks: sending the transfer to the vendor for execution in readiness for completion, preparing statement detailing charges, setting up the completion formalities

Recently asked questions about conveyancing in Chester

Due to move into my new home in Chester next Tuesday. I have now been asked to send a copy of my building insurance schedule by my solicitor as he says that he has to check this in his capacity as lawyer for the lender. What does the insurance need to cover?

All property lawyers on acting for mortgage companies would need to check that the following risks are covered fire; lightning; aircraft; explosion; earthquake; storm; flood; escape of water or oil; riot; malicious damage; theft or attempted theft; falling trees and branches and aerials; subsidence; heave;landslip;collision;accidental damage to underground services;professional fees, demolition and site clearance costs; and public liability to anyone else. There are some other issues such as the level of excess that are set out in a lender’s Part 2 requirements. These requirements are not unique to conveyancing in Chester.

I own a freehold house in Chester but nevertheless charged rent, why is this and what is this?

It’s unusual for properties in Chester and has limited impact for conveyancing in Chester but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the generation of fresh rentcharges post 1977.

Previous rentcharges can now be extinguished by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 will be extinguished.

Forgive me if this question is silly but I am unseasoned as a 1st time purchaser of a two bedroom flat in Chester. Do I collect the keys to the house on completion from my conveyancer? If this is the case, I will use a local conveyancing solicitor in Chester?

There is no need to visit the lawyers office on the day of completion. Conveyancing lawyers for you will transfer the purchase money to the seller's conveyancers, and once they have received this, you should be called to collect the keys from the Estate Agents and move into your new home. This tends to happen early afternoon.

Are all Chester Conveyancing Quality Solicitors on the Coventry BS conveyancing panel?

Some major banks and building societies now utilise CQS as the starting point for Panel approval such as HSBC and Santander. CQS accreditation however is no guarantee to lender panel acceptance. Nevertheless,the Council of Mortgage Lenders have indicated that it is likely to become a pre-requisite for firms wishing to remain on their panels.

I was told three weeks ago that my mortgage has been agreed to by Co-operative. Is it usual for Co-operative to only issue the offer once my solicitor in Chester is approved on their conveyancing panel? Co-operative have asked my solicitor to see a copy of their PI Insurance.

Mortgage companies tend not to not issue a mortgage until they have details of a lawyer on their panel. It can take a few weeks for Co-operative to deal with your lawyer's application to be on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. There's no guarantee that your solicitor will be accepted.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I put an offer in last month in what should have been a straight forward, chain free conveyancing. Chester is the location of the property. Can you shed any light on this issue?

Flying freeholds in Chester are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Chester you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Chester may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

I need to retain a conveyancing solicitor for sale conveyancing in Chester. I happened to discover a site which appears to be the ideal offering If it is possible to get all formalities done via web that would be ideal. Should I be concerned? What are the potential pitfalls?

As usual with these online conveyancers you need to read ALL the small print - did you notice the extra charge for dealing with the mortgage?

We recently found out that one of the partners of the law firm handling the purchase conveyancing in Chester is related to the seller. Is this permitted?

On the basis that there is no conflict of interest this is permitted. If you are obtaining a home loan then the bank may have a say as many lenders have specific instructions concerning this. For example for Nationwide Building Society as of 7/1/2022, the requirements read as follows :

1.15- May your firm act if the person dealing with the transaction or a member of his immediate family is the borrower?

Yes, provided that a different fee earner or partner of no less standing acts for us, there is no conflict of interest and Law Society guidelines are followed.

Last updated

Sample of conveyancing solicitors in Chester regulated by the SRA

It is important to note that the listed firms do not limit their work for conveyancing in Chester but also conveyancing throughout England and Wales.

  • Jolliffe & Co Llp, 6 St John Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1DA
  • Storrar Cowdry & Co Limited, India House, 16 White Friars, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1NZ
  • Hillyer Mckeown Llp, Gorse Stacks House, George Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 3EQ
  • Mercury Legal Llp, Gorse Stacks House, George Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 3EQ
  • Ellis & Co Solicitors Ltd, 10 Castle Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2DS

Residential Landlord and Tenant Conveyancing solicitors in Chester

The firms listed below are a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Chester with expertise in landlord and tenant law and on the regulations governing different types of tenancies. This could include advice on Court proceedings for possession

  • Jolliffe & Co Llp, 6 St John Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1DA
  • Storrar Cowdry & Co Limited, India House, 16 White Friars, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1NZ
  • Hillyer Mckeown Llp, Gorse Stacks House, George Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 3EQ
  • Mercury Legal Llp, Gorse Stacks House, George Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 3EQ
  • Ellis & Co Solicitors Ltd, 10 Castle Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2DS

Commercial Conveyancing solicitors in Chester regulated by the SRA

The list below is a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Chester practicing in commercial conveyancing in Chester. This could include advice on granting a lease to a commercial tenant
  • Johoco Sjw Limited, 6 St John Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1DA
  • Jolliffe & Co Llp, 6 St John Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1DA
  • Johoco Hjb Ltd, 6 St. John Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1DA
  • Johoco Ajb Limited, 6 St John Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1DA
  • Johoco Jah Ltd, 6 St John Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 1DA

*Source acknowledgement: House price data produced by Land Registry as well data supplied by Lexsure Ltd.

© Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of Land Registry under delegated authority from the Controller of HMSO.