Oxford, the oldest university town in the English-speaking world and the “city of dreaming spires”, has a variety of options for the homebuyer and offers great opportunities for those wishing to sell their property, too. A popular location for many a television programme and film, whether you are planning on buying a home in the historical area of Risinghurst, selling a bungalow within the boundaries of the historical walls of Cutterslowe, or simply wishing to release some equity in your semi-detached property in the medieval town of Headington, you know that the team of conveyancing experts at Homeward Legal are waiting to help to guide you through whichever process you have opted for.
Our experience and knowledge of the Oxford housing market and how the purchase, sale and remortgaging of properties in the region are affected by the common (and the not so common!) legal issues, means that you can be assured of a top-quality service at a value-for-money price.
We're open 6 days a week for your convenience, so call us now on to get your free, no-obligation quote.
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Why choose Homeward Legal for your conveyancing in Oxford
We've established an excellent reputation you can trust and helped over 30,000 customers in the past 13 years.
Our residential conveyancing solicitors are regulated under the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
Fixed Legal Fee policy
No hidden costs - the legal fee you get quoted is definitive.
No-Completion, No-Fee policy
You won't pay any legal fees if your move falls through for any reason.
Search & survey protection
You won't pay for your next search and survey if your transaction falls through.
Complete support
Dedicated customer service from start to finish. We are open 6 days a week.
Local knowledge
Solicitors with offices across England and Wales.
Simple & straightforward
No confusion with legal jargon - just plain and simple English.
Excellent, friendly service
So far so good, straight forward process with competitive pricing.
Chris has been brilliant, really helpful and friendly, made me feel reassured during a difficult time and didn't make me feel pressured.
Would definitely use this service again.
Current market trends in Oxford
Buying in Oxford is an attractive proposition because of its beauty and long historical connections, so you'll want to know everything you can about the area you want to move to and how the specifics of the legal process might affect your purchase. So, if you are growing your portfolio of properties to help service the student community, or you like the romantic notion of living close to one of Oxford's canals in Jericho, or maybe like the idea of purchasing a home in the more affluent neighbourhood of Summertown, you can relax in the knowledge that the conveyancing team at Homeward Legal fully understands your needs.
- Average property price: £457,000-£592,000 (all property types)
- Most active areas: City centre, Headington, Jericho, and Cowley
- Typical conveyancing timeframe: 10-12 weeks for standard transactions
- Annual price movement: -2.6% year-on-year
Sources: ONS, Rightmove, Plumplot, Homeward Legal internal data
Updated June 2025
Essential local searches for Oxford properties
When buying property in Oxford, specific local searches are important due to the city's historic heritage, University presence, flood risk considerations, and conservation area restrictions. Our conveyancers conduct comprehensive investigations including:
Local authority searches
Oxford City Council maintains the local land charges register and handles planning permissions, building regulations, conservation area controls, listed building designations, and development restrictions that might affect your property.
These searches reveal planning permissions, building regulations compliance, conservation area restrictions, listed building status, and development plans including the Oxford Local Plan 2036. Oxford has 18 designated conservation areas, including the extensive Central (City and University) Conservation Area covering much of the historic city centre. The city also contains numerous Grade I, Grade II*, and Grade II listed buildings, particularly concentrated around the University colleges and historic areas. Listed building status and conservation area designations affect permitted development rights and require special planning considerations for any alterations, including the historic college precincts, Victorian suburbs, and village-like areas such as Wolvercote and Godstow.
Learn more about local authority search >
Environmental searches
Essential in Oxford due to its location within the Thames Valley and proximity to various environmental considerations including former industrial sites and landfill areas.
Environmental searches identify contamination risks from former industrial activities, air quality concerns, and ground stability issues. These are particularly important given Oxford's industrial heritage and ongoing development pressures.
Learn more about environmental search >
Flood risk searches
Critical for Oxford properties due to the city's location within the Thames Valley and the ongoing Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme works.
Oxford has experienced significant flooding events, and the Environment Agency is implementing major flood defense schemes. Our searches assess flood risk from the River Thames, River Cherwell, and surface water, particularly important in areas like Osney Island, Botley Road, and parts of the city centre.
Location resources for Oxford property transactions
Online tools for researching Oxford properties, planning history, and local considerations.
- Oxford City Council Planning Portal - Search planning applications and building regulations in Oxford
- Land Registry price paid data for Oxford - Search property sale prices and ownership records
- Environment Agency flood risk maps - Check flood risk levels for properties near River Thames and Cherwell
- Oxford Conservation Areas map - Check if properties are in conservation areas with planning restrictions
- Oxfordshire County Council Highway Searches - Highway adoption status and transport connections to surrounding areas
Our conveyancing services in Oxford
From purchase to remortgage - we handle it all
Buying a property in Oxford
Your solicitor's responsibilities will include:
- Initial verification - confirms the seller has legal right to sell and the property is free from issues.
- Property searches - conducts comprehensive local authority and environmental searches to identify potential problems.
- Property enquiries - raises detailed questions with the seller's solicitor about the property's use and history.
- Contract review - examines all legal documentation and ensures terms protect your interests.
- Mortgage coordination - liaises with your lender to arrange mortgage approval and legal requirements.
- Exchange management - finalises contract terms and coordinates exchange making the purchase legally binding.
- Completion coordination - handles final transfer, arranges mortgage funds, and ensures you receive the keys.
- Local expertise - provides knowledge of local property laws and procedures in Oxford.
Selling a property in Oxford
Your solicitor's responsibilities will include:
- Ownership verification & documentation - confirms you have clear legal title and right to sell, then prepares all legal contracts and documentation for the sale.
- Property enquiries response - answers all legal questions raised by the buyer's solicitor about the property.
- Issue resolution - investigates and resolves any legal concerns or defects identified during the process.
- Mortgage coordination - liaises with your lender to arrange mortgage discharge and settlement.
- Exchange management - finalises contract terms and coordinates the exchange of contracts with the buyer's solicitor.
- Completion coordination - handles the final transfer, receives sale proceeds, pays off your mortgage, and transfers remaining funds to you.
- Local expertise - provides knowledge of local property laws and procedures in Oxford.
Buying and selling a property in Oxford
Your solicitor's responsibilities will include:
- Chain coordination & timeline management - manages both transactions simultaneously to align completion dates and ensure smooth progression.
- Dual contract management - handles sale and purchase contracts together, ensuring all terms work in harmony.
- Financial coordination - manages deposit flows and fund transfers between your sale and purchase.
- Synchronised exchange & completion - coordinates both exchanges and completions to happen seamlessly on the same day.
- Local expertise - provides knowledge of local property laws and procedures in Oxford.
Remortgaging a property in Oxford
Your solicitor's responsibilities will include:
- Initial assessment & lender liaison - coordinates between old and new mortgage providers while reviewing your property title.
- Legal documentation & verification - handles all required paperwork and confirms property ownership and restrictions.
- Discharge coordination - arranges settlement of existing mortgage and manages fund transfers.
- Registration completion - updates Land Registry records with new mortgage details and finalises the process.
- Local expertise - provides knowledge of local property laws and procedures in Oxford.
Transfer of equity in Oxford
Your solicitor's responsibilities will include:
- Initial assessment & transfer preparation - reviews current ownership structure and prepares all necessary transfer documentation.
- Documentation & duty management - handles deed preparation and arranges stamp duty calculations and payments.
- Legal completion & registration - finalises the equity transfer and updates all Land Registry records.
- Support & coordination - provides guidance throughout and ensures smooth completion of the equity transfer.
- Local expertise - provides knowledge of local property laws and procedures in Oxford.
Oxford area property guide
Understanding Oxford's diverse neighborhoods
Wolvercote
As with all the suburbs and locations in and around Oxford, Wolvercote helps to service the educational establishments, both for the students and professorial and administrative staff. Located on one of Oxford's canals, its history is with the paper mills that provided the means of printing the many books published by the Oxford University Press. With its three pubs, Wolvercote is a popular location for visitors, while its industrial past will be of interest for the conveyancing solicitor in their environmental searches to understand whether contaminated land is an issue.
Jericho
The quaintly-named Jericho is based just outside the old city walls and grew up originally as a place of rest for weary travellers who had arrived too late to get into the city itself. With its predominantly terraced properties, and its location near the canal, your conveyancing solicitor will look into what issues there are with traffic, parking, noise abatement and sundry other issues that might have arisen with the closeness of the community.
Iffley
To the south-west of the city centre is located Iffley, with its rich history in dwellings that serviced the local mills and the bargees operating on the nearby canal. Because of its historical significance, the whole of the small town is designated as a conservation area, which your conveyancing solicitor will investigate to understand what the specifics are as they affect the property you are keen to buy.
Did you know?
The description of Oxford's skyline as the “city of dreaming spires” is not that old. It comes from Thyrsis, a poem written by Victorian writer Matthew Arnold. Consequently, the term is now used whenever a television programme or book is based there. The architecture seen throughout the city is a mixture of styles, with the Sheldon Theatre, the Radcliff Camera and many of the colleges and Christ Church Cathedral offering some of the most impressive examples.
The Bodleian Library has been in place since 1602 and houses some of the world's oldest maps and manuscripts. It is the second-largest library in the country after the British Library in London, and it is host to over 12 million different items.
Away from the seats of learning, Oxford is also home to one of the strangest landmarks: the Headington Shark. Originally intended as a piece of protest art, the installation depicts the body of a shark buried head-first into the roof of a residential house. Although it didn't have planning permission, it is now protected as a heritage site by the Oxford City Council.
Start your Oxford conveyancing journey today
Get expert Oxford conveyancing from solicitors who understand the University city, conservation areas, flood considerations, and Thames Valley transport links.
Call now for your free quote - we know Oxford's unique property challenges.
Frequently asked questions about conveyancing in Oxford
What makes conveyancing in Oxford different from other areas?
Oxford's unique character as a university city creates specific legal considerations. Our conveyancers understand local council requirements, the extensive conservation areas, University-related tenancy arrangements, and flood risk factors that may affect properties in the Thames Valley location.
How long does conveyancing take in Oxford?
The average transaction takes 8-12 weeks, though this can vary based on property type, location, and whether additional searches are required. Conservation area properties or those in flood risk areas may require extra investigations. We'll provide realistic timescales based on your specific circumstances.
How much does conveyancing cost in Oxford?
Our conveyancing legal fees in Oxford start from £510 for a standard purchase transaction, with a transparent breakdown of all costs provided upfront.
Unlike many firms, we provide a Fixed Legal fee guarantee and No Completion, No Fee protection, ensuring you know exactly what you'll pay with no hidden surprises.
Do I need to visit your offices for Oxford conveyancing?
No, our online service means everything can be handled remotely. Our solicitors have extensive Oxfordshire experience and can manage your transaction efficiently without face-to-face meetings.
