Residential conveyancing solicitors
Whether you are taking your first step onto the property ladder, moving home, or growing your property portfolio, our residential conveyancing solicitors based in London and Tunbridge Wells, Kent can help.
We understand what is important to you – having your transaction go through quickly and smoothly. Our residential conveyancing solicitors will provide you with clear, bespoke advice and move the sale or purchase of your property from inception to completion, seamlessly and efficiently.
More than buying and selling property
Our residential conveyancing lawyers advise on a wide range of services from acquisitions and sales to lease extensions, enfranchisements, inter-family and off-shore transfers, including various types of real estate finance. Transactions often venture further afield, crossing into multiple areas of your life. In these instances, we have experienced teams dedicated to offering other legal services including loan agreements, tax advice, co-ownership agreements and succession planning.
Each transaction is unique and requires advice from an experienced team. We work alongside external advisors, such as tax planners and financial advisors on a daily basis.
Working together
While we do undertake individual transactions, our aim is to create a lasting relationship with you. We take pride in the number of existing clients we regularly act for throughout the South East including Kent, Sussex, Surrey and London. We relish the opportunity to give you the advice you need well beyond the initial instruction.
For more information on how we can help or to discuss your needs, please get in touch or call one of the team members listed below.
Monitor your transaction through the CrippsApp
The easy to use CrippsApp allows you to monitor the progress of your residential transaction. Through the CrippsApp you can:
- view documents and complete all conveyancing forms digitally
- complete ID verification and provide source of funds information
- see what is required of you at each stage of the transaction
- track the status of your property purchase or sale
- communicate directly with your conveyancing lawyer
Talk to us about
Related services
Related sectors
Key contacts
Our residential conveyancing experience
Advised on the sale of a large house that was subject to a high rent tenancy agreement, which gave the buyer an option to buy on the tenant vacating.
Advised on a purchase of a large country house and dairy cottage, which was subject to a draconian overage agreement, which we had released.
Sensitively handled the sale of a six bedroom grade II listed house, which had been in the family for many years, including an overage agreement.
Acted on the purchase of a family home built in the 1910s. The property had been extended in breach of a restrictive covenant, which I had partially released.
Our client successes
Defending leaseholder rights to acquire ‘common parts’
3 min
Read about an important victory secured for our leaseholder clients concerning the definition of common parts.
How we made a difference
Related thinking
Driving into an electric future
A career in residential conveyancing
Budget in brief: the residential property market
Cripps receives top rankings in Chambers High Net Worth guide
The window for the registration of high-rise residential buildings is open – are you ready?
Diversifying land into viticulture
A day in the life of a solicitor apprentice in residential conveyancing
Getting into residential: Opportunities and potential traps for mixed use investors
Cripps ranked as ‘top law firm’ by private client specialists
A case of “Seller Beware”
Our residential conveyancing costs
The costs for buying, selling or remortgaging property can be difficult to accurately price as no two properties or transactions are the same.
We will discuss the transaction and your requirements to fully understand the scope of the work. Where possible, we will be provide a fixed fee quote. This will take into account any relevant information we have gathered during our discussions and aims to reduce the possibility of extra costs arising during the course of the transaction.
Our pricing details are below. VAT is charged at 20% and both VAT exclusive and VAT inclusive fees are indicated
The costs of selling a residential property
Below is a guide to the total estimated costs for completing the sale of a residential property:
| Property Value | Lower Range | Upper Range |
| £0 – £1,500,000 | £2,040 inc VAT | £4,200 inc VAT+ |
| £1,500,000 – £3,000,000 | £3,600 inc VAT | £6,000 inc VAT+ |
| £3,000,000 – 10,000,000+ | £6,000 inc VAT | £10,800 inc VAT+ |
The estimated fees for selling a residential property could be affected for the following reasons. Please keep in mind, this is not an exhaustive list:
- the transaction involves any unregistered land
- there are multiple titles
- the property is leasehold
- there is a mortgage to redeem (or more than one)
- the transaction involves a sale of part of a legal title
- the transaction involves any agricultural or equine aspects
- the contract is to be conditional
- consent to the sale is required from a third party
- the complexity of the legal title
- there is a short deadline for exchange/completion
- completion does not take place on the contractual completion date or there is another breach of the contract by either party
- additional work is required to perfect a defect in the legal title or otherwise satisfy a mortgage lender’s requirements
- slow or unresponsive 3rd parties
- the transaction involves complex Stand Duty Land Tax (SDLT) advice
- the transaction involves matters relating to the Building Safety Act
There are expenses and additional charges for selling a residential property that fall outside any quoted conveyancing fee. These prices are listed as a guide only and are dependent on the price of the property.
| Additional charge | Cost |
| HM Land Registry fee for downloading an official copy of the title and supporting title documents | £3.60 inc VAT per title/document (excluding leases) |
| Bank transfer fee per transfer | £48 inc VAT |
| Additional fees payable to landlord/ oblique estate owner | This will vary but could typically range from £180-£600 inc VAT |
| Indemnity insurance policy premium | If required, this will be dependent on the risk to be covered and the sale price. |
*VAT is charged at a rate of 20%.
The amount of time spent on each stage of selling a residential property will depend on the complexity of the sale. Typically this will involve:
- Complying with Law Society and government regulations including client identification procedures
- Obtaining the information we need including a list of fixtures and fittings in the property and replies to the Law Society’s Property Information Form
- Liaising with the landlord/managing agents and obtaining management information from them (if applicable)
- Reviewing all papers, preparing the sale contract and sending it to the buyer’s solicitor with the legal title of the property and additional information
- Corresponding with the buyer’s solicitor and the estate agent (if any)
- Dealing with enquiries raised by the buyer’s solicitor and negotiating the terms of the contract
- Providing a full report on the contract and arranging for it to be signed when it has been approved by the buyer’s solicitor
- Exchanging contracts with the buyer’s solicitor and receiving the buyer’s deposit
- Obtaining a redemption statement from the lender confirming the amount to be repaid on completion of the sale (if applicable)
- Obtaining the estate agent’s commission account
- Informing the parties of the arrangements for completion of the sale
- Approving the Land Registry transfer documentation and arranging for it to be signed
- Preparing a financial statement showing the net sale proceeds
- Receiving the money for the sale from the buyer’s solicitor and confirming to all parties when completion has taken place
- Repaying the mortgage out of the sale proceeds by bank transfer and obtaining evidence of repayment (if applicable)
- Sending the completion documents to the buyer’s solicitor, paying the estate agent’s commission and transferring the sale proceeds
A straightforward transaction, of selling a residential property, should exchange contracts within 4-6weeks of a sale being agreed, if the matter proceeds smoothly. Completion is, of course, dependent on individuals involved in the transaction, especially where there is a chain.
If you have a preferred date for exchange or completion we shall endeavour to meet that date. However, we are not always able to influence other parties in the transaction and unforeseen complications and delays can arise.
The costs of purchasing a residential property
Below is a guide to the total estimated costs for purchasing a residential property, excluding VAT:
| Property Value | Lower Range | Upper Range |
| £0 – £1,500,000 | £2,160 inc VAT | £4,800 inc VAT |
| £1,500,000 – £3,000,000 | £4,800 inc VAT | £6,000 inc VAT |
| £3,000,000 – 10,000,000+ | £6,000 inc VAT | £14,400 inc VAT |
*VAT is charged at a rate of 20%.
The fees set out for purchasing a residential property could be affected for the following reasons. Please note this is not an exhaustive list:
- the transaction involves any unregistered land
- there are multiple titles
- the property is freehold or leasehold
- we will be acting for a mortgage lender or dealing with a separately represented lender’s solicitor
- the lender’s instructions to us and its requirements are non-standard
- the lender is offshore
- the transaction involves a purchase of part of a legal title
- the complexity of the legal title
- there is a short deadline for exchange/completion
- the contract is to be conditional
- additional work is required to perfect a defect in the legal title or otherwise satisfy a mortgage lender’s requirements
- completion does not take place on the contractual completion date or there is another breach of the contract by either party
- slow or unresponsive 3rd parties
- the transaction involves complex Stand Duty Land Tax (STLT) advice
- the transaction involves matters relating to the Building Safety Act
There are expenses and additional charges involved when purchasing a residential property. These prices are listed as a guide only and are dependent on the price of the property.
| Additional charge | Cost |
| HM Land Registry fee (for registration) | Between £24 – £1,326 inc VAT |
| Landlord’s notice fee | This will vary but will typically be £60 – £180 inc VAT per notice |
| Search fees | This will vary but will typically be £480 – £960 incVAT |
| Bank transfer fee per transfer | £48 inc VAT |
| Indemnity insurance policy premium | If required, dependent on the risk to be covered and purchase price but usually paid by the seller. |
*VAT is charged at a rate of 20%.
The amount of time spent at each stage when purchasing a residential property will depend on the complexity of the sale.
Typically this will involve:
- Complying with Law Society and government regulations including client identification procedures
- Communicating with the solicitor and estate agent (if any) acting for the seller
- Receiving the contract documentation and reviewing those papers in detail
- Arranging searches and considering the results
- Preparing a list of questions to be put to the seller arising out of the documentation provided
- Submitting standard and additional enquiries to be put to the landlord/managing agent (if applicable)
- Preparing a detailed professional report on legal and associated matters affecting the property, including the lease and freehold financial arrangements (if applicable)
- Negotiating the draft contract prepared by the seller’s solicitor and reporting on the contract terms
- Considering the mortgage lender’s instructions, reporting relevant matters to the lender and ensuring compliance with its requirements (if applicable)
- Reporting on the contract and arranging for it to be signed and providing instructions for payment of the deposit
- Obtaining authority to exchange, exchanging contracts with the seller’s solicitor and paying over the deposit
- Drafting the Land Registry transfer and carrying out pre-completion searches
- Reporting to the lender and requesting the mortgage funds in accordance with the lender’s requirements (if applicable)
- Preparing a financial statement, calculating the balance required to complete and providing instructions for payment of funds
- Completing HMRC return SDLT1 (for payment of stamp duty land tax and assuming the calculation of the SDLT liability is straightforward), reporting on the return and arranging for it to be signed
- Obtaining the mortgage funds from the lender (if applicable)
- Sending the completion monies to the seller’s solicitor on completion and finalising completion
- Obtaining the completion documents from the seller’s solicitor
- Serving Notice of Transfer and Notice of Charge on landlord/managing agent (if applicable)
- Submitting HMRC return SDLT1 to HMRC
- Submitting the Land Registry application and advising all relevant parties when it has been completed
- Dealing with the lender’s standard post completion requirements (if applicable)
A straightforward transaction, of purchasing a residential property, should exchange contracts within 4-6 weeks of a purchase being agreed, if the matter proceeds smoothly. Completion is, of course, dependent on individuals involved in the transaction, especially where there is a chain.
If you have a preferred date for exchange or completion we shall endeavour to meet that date. However, we are not always able to influence other parties in the transaction and unforeseen complications and delays can arise.
The costs of remortgaging a residential property
Below is a guide to the total estimated costs for remortgaging of a residential property, excluding VAT:
| Amount of new loan | Lower Range | Upper Range |
| £0 – £1,000,000 | £1,440 inc VAT | £3,000 inc VAT+ |
| £1,500,000 – £3,000,000 | £3,000 inc VAT | £6,000 inc VAT+ |
*VAT is charged at a rate of 20%.
The fees set out for remortgaging a residential property could be affected for the following reasons. Please note this is not an exhaustive list:
- the transaction involves any unregistered land
- there are multiple titles
- the property is freehold or leasehold
- the complexity of the legal title
- consent to the new mortgage is required from a third party
- the lender’s instructions to us and its requirements are standard
- the lender is offshore
- the transaction involves a mortgage of part of a legal title
- there is a short deadline for completion
- additional work is required to perfect a defect in the legal title or otherwise satisfy a mortgage lender’s requirements
- slow or unresponsive 3rd parties
- changes are requires to legal ownership
- the transaction involves matters relating to the Building Safety Act
There are expenses and additional charges of remortgaging a residential property. These prices are listed as a guide only and are dependent on the price of the property.
| Additional charge | Cost |
| HM Land Registry fee for downloading an official copy of the title and supporting title documents Landlord’s notice fee | £3.60 incVAT per title document (excluding leases) |
| HM Land Registry fee for registration | £24 – £1,326 inc VAT |
| Search fees | This will vary but will typically £480 – £960 inc VAT |
| Landlord’s notice fee (if applicable) | This will vary but will typically be £60 – £180 plus VAT |
| Bank transfer fee per transfer | £48 inc VAT |
| Indemnity insurance policy premium | If required, dependent on risk to be covered, lender and market value of the property. |
*VAT is charged at a rate of 20%.
A straightforward remortgaging transaction should complete within 4-6 weeks of instruction, subject to receipt of a satisfactory mortgage offer and lender instructions.
Awards and accreditations
Contact us
If you have a question or need advice, please let us know how we can help.
