Conveyancing in Cambridge

What is involved in conveyancing in Cambridge?

Conveyancing is the term law professionals use for the process of buying and selling property. All the paperwork and legal formalities needed for buying, selling, remortgaging and transferring equity are conveyancing. When you instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Cambridge, they will start the process, including requesting searches on the property for buyers, negotiating the price with the other party's solicitor, exchanging contracts and transferring the funds. We only work with Cambridge conveyancing solicitors who are fully qualified and experts in their field. Read more about all the conveyancing services Homeward Legal offers here.

How do I get a quote for conveyancing in Cambridge?

Getting a quote for conveyancing in Cambridge takes minutes using our online quote builder. All we need are some details about you and the property involved. Our team are also available on seven days a week. You can request a callback for a time that suits you.

Why should I choose a Cambridge conveyancing solicitor through Homeward Legal?

First-class customer service and competitive prices are just two of the excellent reasons to choose Homeward Legal for your conveyancing in Cambridge. Here are some more:

• We always keep things simple, explaining everything in plain English with no unnecessary legal jargon to complicate conveyancing.
• We protect your finances with our no-completion protection. This means you won't pay any legal fees if your transaction fails to complete for any reason.
• The legal fee you are quoted for conveyancing in Cambridge will be exactly what you pay, with no hidden costs*.
• All the conveyancing solicitors on our nationwide panel are fully regulated under the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.
• We put customers first every single time. And we've got hundreds of positive Trustpilot reviews from satisfied customers who appreciate our care and service.

*Your quote from Homeward Legal will cover common conveyancing costs in line with the information you've provided to us. Depending on the specific circumstances of your transaction, and after discussion with your solicitor, there may be additional non-standard fees which would be in addition to the fee quoted by Homeward Legal.

How much does conveyancing in Cambridge cost?

Every conveyancing transaction is unique, which means the final cost will depend on a number of factors, such as the value of the property. A Cambridge conveyancing bill will include solicitors' fees, surveyor costs, Stamp Duty Land Tax**, Land Registry fees, searches and bank transfer charges. Check out our guide to average conveyancing fees in 2020 to gauge the costs involved in Cambridge conveyancing.

**In July 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a stamp duty holiday on certain properties until March 31, 2021.

What are average house prices like in Cambridge?

With a highly educated population, the attraction of high-paying industry and a large student population, property prices in Cambridge remain buoyant. According to the most recent figures from the Land Registry , the average price of a home is £428,808, with a detached property selling for on average £853,912. A semi-detached home sells for, on average, £503,726, with a terraced property going for £432,257 and a flat or maisonette for £284,612.

What will I pay in council tax in Cambridge?

Cambridge City Council is the local authority that sets council tax rates for the city. All residential property is allocated into one of eight bands by the government - find out which band your property is in here.

For 2020-21, council tax bands and charges in Cambridge are:

How good are Cambridge's broadband speeds?

As the home to one of the world's leading universities and the centre of Silicon Fen, Cambridge's superfast broadband levels come as standard. Superfast download speeds are available across the city.

How do schools rate in Cambridge?

Within Cambridge, there are a total of 65 schools and sixth-form colleges - that's 45 primary, 28 secondary and 18 colleges. Of those, seven boast an Ofsted outstanding rating. You can check where your local school stands on the government website.

The city is home to the world-famous Cambridge University and its associated university colleges. There is also a campus for Anglia Ruskin University in the city.

The local parish church is next door to the property I intend to buy in Cambridge - do I need a chancel liability search?

A historic liability that dates back to Henry VIII and the Reformation, our detailed guide explains exactly what's involved in chancel liability. In brief, any land or property within a historic Church of England parish may have a financial responsibility for repairs to the church's chancel or altar. Your Cambridge conveyancing solicitor will advise if a chancel liability search is necessary for your purchase. This search will reveal any potential liability, then you can decide whether to proceed with the purchase or to take out indemnity insurance to protect against future costs.

The property I want to buy is in a conservation area in Cambridge - how will this affect me?

Conservation areas are those of special architectural or historic interest, not simply buildings but sometimes open spaces and trees or a combination of features. Cambridge's history means the city has a large number of important sites, which have been split into 17 distinct conservation areas. This includes the historic core in the Central conservation area. These can be added to at a later date, so it's important to have some idea of the character of the area you're moving to and whether any changes made to a property might affect a sale. Development and renovations in conservations are more strictly controlled. Planning consent or permission must be gained for replacement windows and doors, a removal of a chimney or knocking down an outhouse, for example. For buyers, a conveyancing solicitor in Cambridge will instruct local authority searches that should reveal any existing or historic planning consent. If work has been done without permission, your solicitor can advise on your next steps, which could include applying for retrospective planning permission or purchasing indemnity insurance to cover the costs of reinstating the original property.

I want to buy a property at auction in Cambridge - can you help?

We're ready and waiting to help anyone buying a property at residential or commercial auction. On our carefully vetted panel of law firms, there are many with huge experience in dealing with auction conveyancing transactions. These include purchases from Auction House London, Allsop (commercial and residential), Award Property, Barnett Ross, Baxtons, Acuitus, Phillip Arnold Auctions, Countrywide Property Auctions and Drivers & Norris. Our advice is to instruct a conveyancing solicitor BEFORE you make a bid at auction. That allows your Cambridge solicitor to investigate the legal pack, ensuring a smooth transaction completed within the usual 28-day deadline if your bid is successful.

What are transport links like around Cambridge?

Located in the east of England, Cambridge boasts enviable transport links to the rest of the UK. By rail, an express train whizzes commuters to London's Kings cross in just 45 minutes on a half-hourly service on the East Coast Main Line. The same service offers a fast service north as far as Edinburgh Waverley. Greater Anglia provides a local Cambridgeshire service and on to London Liverpool Street.

The M11 links Cambridge by road with London to the south and the A1(M) to the north. There are rail and bus links to Stansted Airport, which is around 45 minutes away.

Cycling is more than encouraged across Cambridge with a wide range of safe routes for biking.