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Cheap conveyancing in Watford does not necessarily mean low quality - but the odds are stacked against you

Watford Conveyancing Statistics*

  • 1 Average Land Registry Fee for this year to date was £270
  • 2 Average time frame of 62 days for registration of title in Watford
  • 3 69% freehold and 31% leasehold conveyancing in Watford for this year to date
  • 4 Average Stamp Duty Payable for this year to date was £13,596
  • 5 Average time from start to moving day was 42 days for conveyancing in Watford

Examples of recent conveyancing in Watford since December 2022*

Recently asked questions about conveyancing in Watford

The housing market in Watford is hotting up. What can I do to expedite matters?

First, If you are under time constraints for your conveyancing it is advisable to make sure that your lawyer is familiar with the area as they will make use of local contacts and know-how. It is even conceivable that they may have handled previoushomes in the same neighbourhood. You would be best advised to use a Watford conveyancing firm. In addition, double check that the conveyancing firm is on the on the approved list for your mortgage company. It is believed that nearly one in five of Watford conveyancing transactions are frustrated or jeopardised after finding out that a purchaser’s solicitor was not on their mortgage lender’s list of approved solicitors. In many cases this discovery resulted in the conveyancing being frustrated by as much as three weeks. It is understood that this issue affects approximately 100,000 home sales every year. Many Watford conveyancing practices can not represent certain banks so do check at the outset.

I can see plenty of information on this site about conveyancing in Watford but what is your top tip for appointing the right conveyancer in Watford

It would be unwise to be swayed by the cheapest Watford conveyancing quote. You really do get what you pay for when it comes to property lawyers. A cheap quote may mean that the conveyancing solicitor is handling a lot of jobs at one time and you won’t get the quality of service and the attention that you need. It is, however, wise to use a conveyancer who has a fixed fee on a no sale, no fee basis. This way, you know exactly what you’ll have to pay in ahead of the deal.

My partner and I have arranged a further advance on our mortgage from Yorkshire BS as we wish to conduct renovations to our house in Watford. Do we need to appoint a nearby Watford solicitor on the Yorkshire BS conveyancing panel to handle the legals?

Yorkshire BS don't usually require a member of their conveyancing panel to handle the formalities. If they do require any legal work then you would need to ensure that such a lawyer was on the Yorkshire BS list.

My partner and I are at the point of looking at houses in Watford and I am now considering a potential offer. Should I already have a lawyer in place at this point? I am planning to take a home loan with RBS.

It would be advisable to commence your search sooner rather than later. Once you decide who you want to use and once your offer is accepted you can instruct them to work for you and pass their details on to the selling agent. Given that you are getting a mortgage with RBS, make sure you remember to check that your lawyer is on the RBS conveyancing panel.

I am buying a new build apartment in Watford. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.

Set out below is a sample of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you may expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Watford

    Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? Where there is an Undertaking being granted there is the risk of forfeiture of the Headlease subject to relief if one or more of the Underlessees are willing to accept the original Head Lessee’s obligations as otherwise relief will be denied to the Underlessees. The only alternatives are the Head Lessor agreeing not to forfeit the Headlease or the Head Lessee guaranteeing to the Underlessees that it will not be in breach of the Headlease. The Lease must contain a provision on behalf of the Vendor to pay the service charges in respect of unoccupied units in order to ensure that all services can be provided. There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. The Landlord must covenant to assume the management if the Management Company goes into liquidation or otherwise defaults in running the management scheme.

In what way does the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 impact my business property in Watford and how can you help?

The 1954 Act provides security of tenure to commercial tenants, granting the dueness to make a request to court for a continuation of occupancy when the lease comes to an end. There are limited grounds where a landlord can refuse a lease renewal and the rules are involved. We are happy to direct you to commercial conveyancing practices who use the act to your advantage and help with commercial conveyancing in Watford

Am I better off to go with a Watford conveyancing lawyer in close proximity to the house I am buying? We have a good friend who can perform the legal work however they are based 300kilometers drive away.

The benefit of a local Watford conveyancing firm is that you can pop in to execute documents, present your identification documents and pester them if necessary. Having local Watford know how is a plus. That being said nothing is more important than finding someone that will do a good and efficient job. If if people you trust used your friend and the majority were impressed that must trump using an unfamiliar Watford conveyancing lawyer solely due to them being based in the area.

I've recently bought a leasehold property in Watford. Do I have any liability for service charges relating to a period prior to completion of my purchase?

In a situation where the service charge has already been demanded from the previous owner and they have not paid you would not usually be personally liable for the arrears. However, your landlord may still be able to take action to forfeit the lease. It is an essential part of leasehold conveyancing for your conveyancer to be sure to have an up to date clear service charge receipt before completion of your purchase. If you have a mortgage this is likely to be a requirement of your lender.

If you purchase part way through an accounting year you may be liable for charges not yet demanded even if they relate to a period prior to your purchase. In such circumstances your conveyancer would normally arrange for the seller to set aside some money to cover their part of the period (usually called a service charge retention).

We have reached the end of our tether in negotiating a lease extension in Watford. Can the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal adjudicate on premiums?

You certainly can. We are happy to put you in touch with a Watford conveyancing firm who can help.

An example of a Lease Extension decision for a Watford flat is Flats 8, 11 and 15 Craigmore Court 46 Murray Road in December 2013. The tribunal held that the price payable by the Applicant tenant of Flat 8 to acquire an extended lease shall be £26,438 plus £1 to the intermediate lessee . The tribunal held that the price payable by the Applicant tenants of Flat 11 to acquire an extended lease shall be £26,791 plus £1 to the intermediate lessee. The tribunal held that the price payable by the Applicant tenant of Flat 15 to acquire an extended lease shall be £26,638 plus £1 to the intermediate lessee . This case related to 3 flats. The remaining number of years on the lease was 71 years.

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Sample of conveyancing solicitors in Watford regulated by the SRA

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

  • Paul Linton & Co, 17 King Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0BW
  • Penman Sedgwick Llp, 5 George Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0SQ
  • E M Ball & Co, 17 Clarendon Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 1JR
  • Jeremy Simon & Co, 72a St. Marys Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0WQ
  • Arkrights Solicitors, 15-17 Exchange Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0JD

Residential Landlord and Tenant Conveyancing solicitors in Watford

The list below is a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Watford practicing in landlord and tenant law and on the regulations governing different types of tenancies. This could include advice on Rent Act Protected, Assured and Assured Shorthold tenancies

  • Penman Sedgwick Llp, 5 George Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0SQ
  • Robert Ryall Associates Ltd, First Floor, Radius House, 51 Clarendon Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 1HP
  • Christopher Wilks Associates Ltd, C/o Hillier Hopkins Llp, First Floor, Radius House, 51 Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1HP
  • Stephen Ryan Associates Ltd, C/o Hillier Hopkins Llp, First Floor, Radius House, 51 Clarendon Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 1HP
  • Jeremy Simon & Co, 72a St. Marys Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0WQ

Planning law solicitors in Watford regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

The practices listed below are a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Watford specialising in planning law. This may include advice on planning applications and appeals
  • Paul Fallon & Company, 87-89 Market Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD18 0PT
  • Ellistons Slp Solicitors Limited, 51-53 The Broadway, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4DJ
  • Yugin & Partners, Jubilee House, Merrion Avenue, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4RY
  • Pindoria Solicitors Limited, 1st Floor, 502 Honeypot Lane, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 1JR
  • Hb Public Law Ltd, Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 2UH

*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.