How long does it take to move house?
Those new to buying property are often surprised by how long the process can take from start to finish. There are several factors that come into play when determining how long your transaction will take from having your offer accepted to moving into your new home: The number of people involved in the chain (the shorter it is, the easier to manage and therefore shorter in duration potentially), problems with one or more buyers in the chain getting a mortgage offer, communication, management and many others.
The greatest time that needs to be set aside is for the conveyancing, which is the complex legal process of transferring ownership of the property from seller to buyer, replicated along the entire chain. Typically, the conveyancing can take an average of between eight and twelve weeks to complete, so, in reality, you should be thinking in terms of months.
However, if you appoint a results-focused and proactive solicitor, who will do everything possible to reduce the length of time, including talking to everyone involved in the chain, pushing for swift return of forms and documentation, and using modern technology to drive the process forward, you will stand a better chance of the conveyancing being a lot shorter. And the earlier you appoint them, the quicker they can get started on your transaction.
Looking for great conveyancing where our solicitors work hard to deliver your completion as early as possible? Call Homeward Legal on 0800 038 6699 to find out how low our fees are.
I’ve lost my gas/electrical certificates; will that stop me moving?
There is no legal imperative for you to provide either the gas or electrical safety certificates as the seller; you are required to provide a gas safety certificate on an annual basis, however, if you are planning on letting the property out. The Institution of Electrical Engineers recommends that an electrical certificate be updated at least every ten years or when the property is transferred to a new owner (every 5 years if you are letting the property out).
However, this usually means that this is the responsibility of the buyer with the onus on organising an inspection for a new certificate falling on them.
Homeward Legal offers competitive, fixed-fee quotes, protected by our 'No Completion, No Fee' guarantee. Try our online quote calculator or call our team on 0800 038 6699 to see what we mean.
We are purchasing with National Westminster Bank, is there anything we need to know?
Buyers should consider that a small number of lenders have opted to reduce the size of their 'solicitor panel', which may result in increased legal costs for buyers. We are able to act on behalf of all major lenders, keeping buyers' legal costs to a minimum.
Which local authority is responsible for Derbyshire?
- Derbyshire intersects with the following local authorities: Amber Valley Borough Council, Town Hall, Market Place, Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3BT, Tel: 01773 570 222
- Ashfield District Council, Council Offices, Urban Road, Kirkby- in- Ashfield, NG17 8DA, Tel: 01623 450 000
- Chesterfield Borough Council, Town Hall, Rose Hill, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1LP, Tel: 01246 345 345
- Derby City Council, 1 Albion Street, Derby, Derbyshire, DE1 2PR, Tel: 01332 293 111
- Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AG, Tel: 01629 533 190
- Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AG, Tel: 01629 533 191
- Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AG, Tel: 01629 533 192
- Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AG, Tel: 01629 533 193
- Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AG, Tel: 01629 533 194
- Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3AG, Tel: 01629 533 195
- East Staffordshire Borough Council, Town Hall, King Edward Place, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 2EB, Tel: 01283 508 000
- Erewash Borough Council, Ilkeston Town Hall, Wharncliffe Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 5RP, Tel: 0845 907 2244
- Mansfield District Council, Civic Centre, Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG19 7BH, Tel: 01623 463 463
- North West Leicestershire District Council, Council Offices, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3FJ, Tel: 01530 454 545
- North West Leicestershire District Council, Council Offices, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3FJ, Tel: 01530 454 546
- East Devon District Council, Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8HL, Tel: 01395 516 551
- East Devon District Council, Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8HL, Tel: 01395 516 553
- East Devon District Council, Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8HL, Tel: 01395 516 554
- East Devon District Council, Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8HL, Tel: 01395 516 555
- East Devon District Council, Council Offices, Knowle, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8HL, Tel: 01395 516 556
- Exeter City Council, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1JN, Tel: 01392 277 888
- London Borough of Merton Council, Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX, Tel: 020 8274 4904
- Mid Devon District Council, Phoenix House, Phoenix Lane, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6PP, Tel: 01884 255 255
- North Devon District Council, Civic Centre, North Walk, Barnstaple EX31 1EA Tel: 01271 327 711
- Plymouth City Council, Civic Centre, Royal Parade, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 2AA, Tel: 01752 668 000
- South Hams District Council, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5NE, Tel: 01803 861 234
- South Hams District Council, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5NE, Tel: 01803 861 235
- South Somerset District Council, Council Offices, Brympton Way, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2HT, Tel: 01935 462 462
- Taunton Deane Borough Council, The Deane House, Belvedere Road, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1HE, Tel: 01823 356 356
- Teignbridge District Council, Forde House, Brunel Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 4XX, Tel: 01626 361 101
- Torbay Council, Town Hall, Castle Circus, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 3DR, Tel: 01803 201 201
- Torridge District Council, Manor Offices North Road, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6DJ Tel: 01409 253336
- West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Park, Tavistock, DEvon, PL19 0BZ, Tel: 01822 813 601
- West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Park, Tavistock, DEvon, PL19 0BZ, Tel: 01822 813 602
- West Somerset Council, 3 Summerland Road Minehead, Somerset, TA24 5BP Tel: 01643 703704
I am purchasing a converted maisonette in a conservation area. How do I find data in respect of the standard of repair of the conservation area?
Local conservation areas are specified by Derbyshire Dales who are responsible for things like private spaces to the inhibition of street posts.
English Heritage maintain a list of the condition (poor to good) of conservation areas in Derbyshire and throughout England.