Conveyancing in City of London

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.

***Please Note; the government temporarily increased the amount at which stamp duty is paid to £500,000, for property sales in England and Northern Ireland. This was due to end on 31 March, but it was announced in the 2021 Budget that it will now end on 30 June. After this date, the starting rate of stamp duty will be £250,000 until the end of September. Stamp duty will then return to the level of £125,000.

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:

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.