Conveyancing in South East London

What does conveyancing in South-East London involve?

Conveyancing is the term the legal profession uses for the process of buying and selling land and property. In effect, this is all the paperwork involved in buying and selling property, remortgaging and a transfer of equity from a property. Your South-East London conveyancing solicitor carries out all the legal formalities to ensure the transaction is completed. Among the activities required for conveyancing are requesting searches, negotiating on price, exchanging contracts and transferring funds. We only work with South-East London conveyancing solicitors who are fully qualified and experts in their field. Read more about the conveyancing services Homeward Legal offers here.

How do I get a quote for conveyancing in South-East London?

Our online quote builder will give you an instant quote for the South-East London conveyancing services you need. 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 South-East London conveyancing solicitor through Homeward Legal?

With first-class customer service and the most competitive quotes, Homeward Legal is the best option for all South-East London conveyancing services. Here are some excellent reasons to choose Homeward Legal:

• We don't confuse matters by using complicated and unnecessary legal jargon. Instead we explain all you need to know in plain English.
• We offer no-completion protection so there's no cost to you if your transaction fails to complete for any reason.
• The legal fee you are quoted for conveyancing in South-East London will be exactly what you pay, with no hidden costs*.
• We only work with conveyancing solicitors who are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.
• We always put the customer first. Check out the hundreds of positive Trustpilot reviews to show the high satisfaction levels for Homeward Legal customers.

*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 South-East London cost?

There is no definitive answer to how much conveyancing in South-East London will cost. Each transaction depends on factors such as the value of the property involved. A South-East London conveyancing transaction will include several 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, we've produced a 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 South-East London?

A World Heritage Site and, of course, the home to the Royal Observatory and the Meridian Line was developed, the Royal Borough of Greenwich mixes both ancient and modern in a vibrant community. The architecture here ranges from Georgian to Victorian to early 20th-century family homes. More recently, major apartment blocks have been built in the borough.

Bexley has a range of period property, too, some dating from the Georgian era but mostly Victorian and 1930s detached, semi-detached and bungalows. Newbuild developments have mainly focused on apartments, but there are some with family homes.

Family-sized homes dominate the property market in Bromley, everything from Victorian cottages and houses to 1920s detached homes and 1930s semis and bungalows. There are newbuild flats and homes around the borough.

How much does the average property cost in South-East London?

Here's the most recent Land Registry average sold price data for property in each of our south London boroughs:

Greenwich: £388,441 (detached £808,825; semi £573,729; terraced £430,482; flats/maisonettes £331,506)

Bexley: £345,568 (detached £583,875; semi £438,434; terraced £349,476; flats/maisonettes £233,334)

Bromley: £427,541 (detached £863,290; semi £521,261; terraced £385,562; flats/maisonettes £278,274)

How much will I pay in council tax in South-East London?

London's boroughs set council tax rates for their own areas. All residential property is placed into one of eight bands that depend on its valuation. Use the government's valuation website to check the band your property is in.

For an idea of what you might pay, we're detailing the most popular Band D council tax rate and a link to the borough website where all ratings and costs are listed:

Greenwich: £1,489.55

Bexley: £1,744.64

Bromley: £1,596.84

What are transport links like in South-East London?

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has the best transport links of our three featured south-east boroughs. With 13 Tube stations and four Docklands Light Railway stations, Greenwich is well-served by Transport for London's services, including Overground bus services. Greenwich will also be home to two Elizabeth Line stations, the new Crossrail link between west and east London due to open in 2021. Bexley will also have an Elizabeth Line station. Both this borough and Bromley have extensive TfL bus services with Bromley also benefit from tram services.

How good are broadband speeds in South-East London?

All London's boroughs have access to full-fibre broadband, though speeds do vary from area to area. You can put your postcode into a broadband comparison site to find out the speeds you might expect at your new South-East London property.

What are schools like in South-East London?

There are 18 schools in Greenwich that are rated as outstanding by Ofsted; Bexley has 13 schools rated by the regulator as outstanding; and Bromley has 29 outstanding schools.

Use the government's school comparison website to check the rating of your chosen school.

Is a flood-risk search essential when buying in South-East London?

London's main defence against flooding is the Thames Barrier, which is at Woolwich within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Both Greenwich and Bexley have a border with the river, which makes assessment of flood risk when buying a home a priority. That does also apply to Bromley because of the rise in flash flooding in the UK in recent years. Check the Environment Agency's flood-risk website for guidance on areas most at risk of flooding. When buying a home in South-East London, your conveyancing solicitor will discuss instructing a flood-risk search.

Should we ask about a chancel repair search when buying property in South-East London?

This rare and historic charge dating back to the 16th century and the establishment of the Church of England, chancel repair liability carries with it the risk of a big bill if not identified before you buy a property. We've created a detailed guide on chancel repair liability. Where necessary for conveyancing in South-East London, your solicitor will commission a chancel repair liability search.

Are there conservation areas in South-East London to be aware of?

South-East London has seen major redevelopment and regeneration projects in recent. However, each borough in our South-East London guide is also filled with areas of historical or architectural significance. These are designated as conservation areas where much stricter planning rules apply. As a royal borough, Greenwich has 23 conservation areas, including Greenwich Park and Royal Arsenal Woolwich. Bexley also has 23 conservation areas such as Old Bexley and the Hollies in Sidcup. In Bromley, there are 45 conservation areas, including Hayes Village and Farnborough Park. When buying a home in a South-East London borough, your conveyancing solicitor will instruct a local authority search that will identify any issues around planning.

What should home buyers know about contaminated land in South-East London?

London's long history of industry means there are many areas of the capital with vacant land that could be contaminated by its past use. Many of the new development and regeneration projects are taking place on brownfield sites that were once a hive of industry. By law, a borough council must keep a register of all identified contaminated land. It makes sense to ensure your property purchase is free of any issues. Ask your South-East London conveyancing solicitor about instruct an environmental search.

Should we instruct a conveyancing solicitor before buying at auction in South-East London?

We always advise anyone buying a property at auction in South-East London to instruct a solicitor first because the deadline for completion is short, usually 28 days. Formally instructing a solicitor before the auction gives them time to examine the lot's legal pack and get the transaction underway. Read more in our thorough guide to conveyancing for auction property. Homeward Legal works with expert property law firms who have completed many auction conveyancing transactions, such as from Auction House London, Allsop (commercial and residential), Award Property, Barnett Ross, Baxtons, Acuitus, Phillip Arnold Auctions, Countrywide Property Auctions and Drivers & Norris.