Conveyancing in Leeds

What is involved in conveyancing in Leeds?

Conveyancing is the term law professionals use for the process of buying and selling property. This means all the paperwork and legal formalities needed for buying, selling, remortgaging and transferring equity are part of conveyancing. When you instruct a Leeds conveyancing solicitor, they will request searches on the property for buyers, negotiate the price with the other party's solicitor, exchange contracts and transfer the funds to complete the transaction. Homeward Legal works with fully qualified and expert property law firms for all conveyancing in Leeds. You can find out more about the conveyancing services Homeward Legal offers here.

How do I get a quote for conveyancing in Leeds?

Get an instant quote for conveyancing in Leeds using our online quote builder. All we need are a few details about you and the property involved. You can also call our team on seven days a week or request a callback for a time more convenient for you.

Why should I choose a Leeds 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 Leeds conveyancing. 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 Leeds 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 Leeds cost?

Each conveyancing transaction is unique, which means the final cost will depend on a number of factors, such as the value of the property. A Leeds conveyancing bill will include solicitors' fees, surveyor costs, Stamp Duty Land Tax**, Land Registry fees, searches and bank transfer charges. Our guide to average conveyancing fees in 2020 will explain some of the costs involved in Leeds 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 Leeds?

The latest sold price data from the Land Registry shows that homebuyers will pay an average £187,683 for a property in Leeds. Breaking that down, a detached home costs on average £342,311, a semi fetches £200,432 and a terraced property sells on average for £152,662. Flats and maisonettes have an average sold price of £130,692.

How much is council tax in Leeds?

The local authority, Leeds City Council, sets council tax rates. Properties are allocated into one of eight council tax bands, depending on their valuation. Find out which band your property is in on the government website.

For 2020-21, council tax bands in Leeds are:

What are broadband speeds like in Leeds?

High demand from the banking and insurance sector in Leeds means the city benefits widely from superfast fibre-optic broadband. Use your postcode to find out the expected broadband speeds in your chosen area.

How do schools rate in Leeds?

In Leeds, there are 261 primary schools, 64 secondary schools and 46 sixth form and further education colleges. Of those, 47 are rated outstanding by Ofsted. You can find out the rating of your chosen school on the government website.

Leeds is also home to four universities: The University of Leeds, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds Beckett University, bringing a large student population into the city and surrounding areas.

We're buying a property in the same Leeds street as the local parish church - do we need a chancel repair liability search?

Dating back to the Reformation and Henry VIII's creation of the Church of England, chancel repair liability is a historic right of a local parish to bill land and property owners within the parish boundaries for repairs to the chancel or altar. Find out more about chancel liability in our detailed guide, which affects property in England and Wales. Your conveyancing solicitor in Leeds will advise you on whether you need a chancel liability search. Where liability is found, you may be advised to take out indemnity insurance to protect you against future costs.

We're buying in a Leeds conservation area - what do we need to know?

Conservation areas are those designated as having a special architectural or historic quality, and councils have stricter rules on what can be done to a property within that area. For example, any replacement windows or doors must ensure they do not alter the character of a building, and even a satellite dish may not be allowed. There are currently 79 conservation areas in Leeds, including Boston Spa, Armley and Headingley. Your Leeds conveyancing solicitor will commission an essential local authority planning search when buying in a conservation area.

Is there a risk of buying on contaminated land in Leeds?

In a city such as Leeds with a rich industrial past, many areas of land could be considered contaminated. These are often former factories, landfill and mines as well as areas with naturally occurring contamination such as radon or methane. The city council must by law keep a register of all identified contaminated land. To ensure the property you're buying is not affected by contaminated land, your conveyancing solicitor in Leeds can instruct an environmental search that will identify any nearby.

Can we get the conveyancing help we need for a property auction buy in Leeds?

You most definitely can help with all property auction conveyancing in Leeds. Our nationwide panel of law firms have vast experience in all areas of conveyancing, including completing auction property transactions. Our panel have completed sales 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. For more detail on conveyancing for a Leeds property bought at auction, check out our comprehensive guide.

Will my Leeds property purchase be affected by the HS2 high-speed rail link?

Leeds is one of the connecting cities for the HS2 high-speed rail link that will speed up journeys between London and Birmingham, then on to Manchester and Leeds. As work continues on the route, it's imperative that anyone buying property around those cities have an HS2 search carried out as part of the conveyancing. Some property on the route may be subject to compulsory purchase order, which the HS2 search will reveal. Your Leeds conveyancing solicitor will talk you through exactly what's needed.

What are transport links like in Leeds?

West Yorkshire Metro is the public transport authority involving all the local authorities in the region. WYMetro runs buses and trains across the area. Find out more about the network on their website.

Leeds Railway Station is the third busiest in all of the UK, connecting the city to London and Edinburgh with LNER and with Manchester and Newcastle via the TransPennine Express.

By road, the M1 connects Leeds to the north, via the A1(M), and the south, with the M62 providing fast travel to Manchester in the west and Hull in the east.

Leeds-Bradford Airport is around seven miles north-west of the city centre with rail and bus links for passengers.