Find out more about conveyancing in City of London
If you are buying, selling or remortgaging a house or flat in City of London, you will need to appoint a lawyer to carry out the legal work for you. Our property lawyers have many years’ experience helping home buyers and sellers in City of London, and our pragmatic approach means that we move you in the shortest possible time.
Fixed price cost for your Conveyancing
Our solicitors carry out all the conveyancing work for your house move for a fixed fee.
No-Completion protection as standard†
You will not be charged any solicitors fees, if for any reason your transaction does not complete.
Local CQS-accredited Solicitors
With local experience, our solicitors will lead you through the whole of your sale or purchase.
Conveyancing in the City of London: A mover's guide
Known as the Square Mile, the City of London is the capital's premier business district and home to some of the best-known banks and companies in the world with around 450,000 cramming into its offices on normal working days.
But when the office workers go home, around 8,000 people remain because the Square Mile is their home.
Property in this part of town is expensive because there are fewer homes to choose home and high demand. But if you're determined to settle down in the city, we've got all your questions on moving and conveyancing in the City of London covered.
What does conveyancing in the City of London involve?
Conveyancing is the term for all the paperwork involved in buying and selling property, remortgaging and a transfer of equity from a property. Your City of London conveyancing solicitor carries out all the legal formalities to ensure the transaction is completed smoothly. Among the activities required for conveyancing are requesting searches, negotiating on price, exchanging contracts and transferring funds on the day of completion. We only work with City of London conveyancing solicitors who are fully qualified and experts in their field. You can read more about all the conveyancing services Homeward Legal offers here.
How do I get a quote for conveyancing in the City of London?
Our online quote builder will give you an instant quote for the conveyancing in the City of London services you need. All we need are a few details about you and the property involved in your transaction. You can also get a quote in minutes by calling our team on or request a callback for a time that suits you. We're open seven days.
Why should I choose a City of London conveyancing solicitor through Homeward Legal?
With first-class customer service and the most competitive quotes, Homeward Legal is the ideal option for all conveyancing services in the City of London. Here are some excellent reasons to choose Homeward Legal:
- 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 City of London 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 the City of London cost?
There is no definitive answer to how much conveyancing in the City of London will cost. Each transaction depends on a number of factors, such as the value of the property involved and whether it is leasehold or freehold. A City of London conveyancing transaction will include several charges, including solicitor and Land Registry fees, costs for a surveyor and Stamp Duty Land Tax**. The final bill will also include fees for searches and bank transfers. For an idea of conveyancing costs in the City of London, check out our guide to average conveyancing fees in 2020.
**In July 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a stamp duty holiday on certain properties until March 31, 2021.
The conveyancing process explained
Read our step-by-step guide to the conveyancing process.
What types of property are available in the City of London?
The historic street names in this part of the city tell of London's history of goldsmiths, merchants, grocers and other trades. Much of the available residential property is newbuild apartments and converted flats in older properties, but there are also some larger terraced homes and very occasionally a detached property comes on to the market.
How much does the average property cost?
According to the most recent data from the Land Registry, the average sold price of a property in the City of London is £813,718.
How much will I pay in council tax in the City of London?
The City of London Corporation is responsible for setting council tax rates within the Square Mile with varying rates depending on the location. Residential property in England is placed into one of eight bands depending on its valuation. You can find out which band your property is in on the government's valuation website.
The 2020-21 council tax rates in the City of London are:
Tax Band | Charges |
---|---|
Band A | £671.46 |
Band B | £783.37 |
Band C | £895.28 |
Band D | £1007.19 |
Band E | £1,231.01 |
Band F | £1,454.83 |
Band G | £1,678.65 |
Band H | £2014.38 |
What are transport links like in the City of London?
There are 11 Tube stations within the Square Mile: Aldgate, Bank, Barbican, Blackfriars, Cannon Street, Chancery Lane, Liverpool Street, Monument, Moorgate, St Paul's and Tower Hill.
National rail services are available from Blackfriars, City Thameslink, Cannon Street, Liverpool Street, Moorgate and Old Street stations. Crossrail, scheduled to open in 2022, is the new rail line for London that will speed up journey times across the capital and beyond. Within the City of London, Liverpool Street station will be one of the main stops on the new Elizabeth Line.
Transport for London's Overground bus service connects the City to the rest of the capital.
The City of London is within the Central London Congestion Zone, meaning a £15 daily charge for motorists who drive within this area. Residents are entitled to a discount.
How good are broadband speeds in the City of London?
Giganet offers guaranteed broadband speeds of 1Gb in the City of London. Use your postcode and a broadband comparison site to find out what speeds you can expect.
What are schools like in the City of London?
There are few schools within the City of London itself. The corporation is responsible for one maintained primary school, eight sponsored academies (as part of the City of London Academies Trust) and two co-sponsored academies in neighbouring boroughs. It also supports three independent schools. If you know the school you're interested in, you can check its Ofsted rating on the government's school comparison website.
Do we need a flood-risk search when buying in the City of London?
The Thames Barrier at Woolwich provides London's main defence against flooding. As the City of London borders the river, it makes sense to consider potential flood risk when buying a home here. Use the Environment Agency's flood-risk website for guidance. Your conveyancing solicitor for a City of London purchase can instruct a flood-risk search as part of your transaction.
Should we ask about chancel repair liability when buying property in the City of London?
Chancel repair liability is a historic charge dating back to Henry VIII and the establishment of the Church of England. While it's rare for this charge ever to be issued, the risk of being responsible for paying thousands in repairs to the local church means property buyers should always ask about a chancel repair liability search. We've created an informative guide. When you're buying property in the City of London, your conveyancing solicitor will advise if a chancel repair liability search is necessary.
What conservation areas in the City of London should property buyers know of?
Its long and illustrious past means the Square Mile is filled with significant buildings and areas that need to be preserved and enhanced. Those are allocated into conservation areas, and there are currently 27 in the City of London. Special planning rules are in place for these areas, strictly controlling what land and property owners can do. Your City of London conveyancing solicitor will ask for a local authority search that will show any current or historic planning consents for the property you're buying.
We intend to buy a property at auction in the City of London - can you help?
Yes, we can. We work with a panel of expert property law firms with vast experience in completing property transactions from auctions, including from the likes of Auction House London, Allsop (commercial and residential), Award Property, Barnett Ross, Baxtons, Acuitus, Phillip Arnold Auctions, Countrywide Property Auctions and Drivers & Norris. Check out our comprehensive guide to conveyancing for auction property in the City of London - it has all you need to know.
Did you know?
She may hold the crown, but HM The Queen cannot enter the City of London without the Lord Mayor's permission. It's a tradition dating back to Elizabeth I and the defeat of the Spanish Armada that, during certain ceremonial events, Elizabeth II must stop at Temple Bar and ask for the right to go further.
Until 1994, there was not a single road in the City of London. All thoroughfares were streets, squares or alleys, but none contained “road”. That changed with boundary changes that meant the eastern half of Goswell Road came into the city's jurisdiction with the other half remaining in the Borough of Islington.
Making conveyancing in the City of London easy
Conveyancing in the City of London doesn't need to be complicated or expensive. Whether buying or selling, remortgaging or transferring equity, at Homeward Legal we make the process easy. Get an instant quote online or call . We're open seven days.
Areas within this district of London include:
Aldermanbury, Barbican, Blackfriars, Charterhouse, Clerkenwell, Houndsditch, Moorgate, Smithfield, Temple, The-City, Tower-Hill, West-Smithfield