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Gillingham Conveyancing Statistics*

  • 1 121 is the median number of years remaining on leases in Gillingham
  • 2 Average time from start to completion was 83 days for conveyancing in Gillingham
  • 3 The most common indemnity insurance policies for Gillingham conveyancing is Chancel
  • 4 Average Land Registry Fee for this year to date was £270
  • 5 December was the busiest month and January was the next busiest month while November was the least busiest month of the year for conveyancing in Gillingham

Examples of recent conveyancing in Gillingham since August 2025*

Recently asked questions about conveyancing in Gillingham

I am under pressure from the owner of a property in Gillingham to exchange within four weeks. What can be done to hasten the legal process?

Where the seller is applying pressure for your conveyancing we would recommend that your conveyancer is familiar with the location as they will make use of local relationships and intelligence. It is possible that they could have conducted otherproperties in the same street. You would be best advised to use a Gillingham conveyancing lawyer. In addition, double check that the lawyer is on the on the approved list for your mortgage company. It is estimated that 18% of Gillingham conveyancing transactions are delayed or derailed after finding out that a buyer’s solicitor was not on their banks member panel. In many cases this discovery resulted in the transaction being delayed by almost three weeks. It is said that this issue impacts in the region of 100,000 home sales annually. Many Gillingham conveyancing firms can not represent certain banks so do check at the outset.

When will exchange of contracts take place for sale conveyancing in Gillingham and do I need to be at the conveyancers branch?

If you are in close proximity to our conveyancing solicitors in Gillingham you are invited in to sign documents. However, the lender approved solicitors we work with provide countrywide coverage for conveyancing and give as equally detailed and professional a job for you when dealing with you by post or email. The executing of the property agreement is not the point of no return. Signing on the dotted line simply enables the conveyancer to address the formalities at the suitable time, which will usually be very shortly after signing. The procedure is nowadays normally dealt with by telephone and can be very rapid, although where a lengthy "chain" is involved, since the process requires the relevant party's solicitor (not necessarily a conveyancing solicitor in Gillingham)to be in the office at the appropriate time.

Various online forums that I have visited warn that are the main reason for obstruction in Gillingham conveyancing transactions. Is this right?

The Council of Property Search Organisations (CoPSO) has noted the determinations of a review by MoveWithUs that conveyancing searches do not figure within the common causes of hindrances during the legal transfer of property. Local searches are not likely to be the root cause of slowing down conveyancing in Gillingham.

I am buying a new build house in Gillingham benefiting from help to buy. The builders would not reduce the amount so I negotiated £7000 of additionals instead. The property agent advised me not reveal to my lawyer about the deal as it could impact my mortgage with Accord Mortgages Ltd. Should I keep quiet?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the developer of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

I today plan to offer on a house that seems to meet my requirements, at a great figure which is making it more attractive. I have since found out that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are issues buying a leasehold house in Gillingham. Conveyancing lawyers have are about to be instructed. Will my lawyers set out the implications of buying a leasehold house in Gillingham ?

Most houses in Gillingham are freehold rather than leasehold. In this scenario it’s worth having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area who can help the conveyancing process. it is apparent that you are buying in Gillingham so you should seriously consider looking for a Gillingham conveyancing solicitor and be sure that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. First you will need to check the unexpired lease term. As a tenant you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want to the property. The lease comes with conditions for example obtaining the landlord’spermission to carry out alterations. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the maintenance of the communal areas where the property is part of an estate. Your solicitor should advise you fully on all the issues.

I invested in buying a studio flat in Gillingham, conveyancing was carried out April 2001. Can you let me have an estimated range of the fair premium for a lease extension? Corresponding properties in Gillingham with an extended lease are worth £222,000. The ground rent is £50 charged once a year. The lease terminates on 21st October 2096

With only 71 years remaining on your lease the likely cost is going to span between £9,500 and £11,000 plus costs.

The figure that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we are not able to supply the actual costs without more comprehensive investigations. You should not use this information in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be other issues that need to be taken into account and clearly you want to be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action placing reliance on this information without first getting professional advice.

One month into purchasing a property in Gillingham. Conveyancing lawyer has told us the property is "Leasehold". Does this make a difference on the marketability of the house?

Gillingham conveyancing does not usually involve leasehold houses. The main factor here is the unexpired lease term and the ground rent. If there are hundred of years years remaining with a peppercorn rent, it's essentially freehold, so it’s unlikely to impact the marketability significantly.

At the other extreme, if it's, say, 50 years it is bound to have a material effect on the value, and most likely wouldn't be mortgageable. The length of lease and ground rent will be specified in the lease to be supplied to your conveyancer.

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Sample of conveyancing solicitors in Gillingham regulated by the SRA

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

  • Hawkridge & Company Llp, 39 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5TR
  • Dgb Solicitors Llp, The Captains House, Pembroke, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4UF
  • Stephens & Son Llp, Rome House, 41 Railway Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4RP
  • Dakers Marriott Dugdale Limited, Unit 3 Exeter House, Beaufort Court, Sir Thomas Longley Road, Rochester, Kent, ME2 4FE
  • Winch & Winch, 5 New Road Avenue, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6AR

Commercial Conveyancing solicitors in Gillingham regulated by the SRA

The list below is a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Gillingham specialising in commercial conveyancing in Gillingham. This will likely include advice on re-mortgaging commercial property
  • Hawkridge & Company Llp, 39 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5TR
  • Dgb Solicitors Llp, The Captains House, Pembroke, Chatham Maritime, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4UF
  • J N Jones Solicitors, 1 Cambridge Terrace, Cambridge House Business Centre, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4RG
  • Stephens & Son Llp, Rome House, 41 Railway Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4RP
  • Kingsley Smith Solicitors Llp, 81 High Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4EE

Planning law solicitors in Gillingham regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

The practices listed below are a small selection of solicitors in Gillingham specialising in planning law. The solicitors can give expert legal advice on all aspects of planning, including making sure people do what the planning regulations say
  • The Kingsley Smith Trustee Company, 81 High Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4EE
  • Kingsley Smith Solicitors Llp, 81 High Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4EE

*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.