Conveyancing in South West London

What is involved in conveyancing in South-West London?

Conveyancing is the term law professionals use for the process of buying and selling property. All the paperwork and legal formalities needed for buying, selling, remortgaging and transferring equity are part of the conveyancing process. When you instruct a conveyancing solicitor in South-West London, they will, for example, instruct searches on the property for buyers, negotiate the price with the other party's solicitor, exchange contracts and transfer the funds on completion. Homeward Legal works with fully qualified and expert property law firms for all conveyancing in South-West London. There's more information here about the conveyancing services Homeward Legal offers.

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

Use our online quote builder to get an instant quote for conveyancing in South-West London. We'll ask for some details about you and the property involved. You can also call us on and request a callback for a time that suits you. We're open seven days for your convenience.

Why should I choose a South-West London 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 South-West London conveyancing. Here are some other good reasons to select our services:

• We always use plain English and won't complicate matters by using unnecessary legal jargon.
• Our offer of no-completion protection ensures you won't be out of pocket if your transaction fails to complete for any reason.
• The legal fee you are quoted for conveyancing in South-West London will be exactly what you pay, with no hidden costs*.
• We only work with fully qualified solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.
• We always put our customers first. Check out the hundreds of positive Trustpilot reviews that reveal high levels of customer satisfaction with Homeward Legal.

*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-West London cost?

As each conveyancing transaction is unique, there is no one-price-fits-all. In fact, the final bill depends on a number of factors, including the value of the property and whether it is freehold or leasehold. Your South-West London conveyancing bill will include solicitors' fees, surveyor costs, Stamp Duty Land Tax**, Land Registry fees, searches and bank transfer charges. Check out our guide to average conveyancing fees in 2020 to see some of the costs involved in South-West London conveyancing.

**In July 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a stamp duty holiday on certain properties until March 31, 2021.

What types of property are available in South-West London?

Historic Richmond-upon-Thames has roots going back to the 12th century, but its connection with Henry VIII and his palace at Richmond and royal park makes Richmond one of London's most desired destinations. The property portfolio here includes many Georgian and Victorian homes, as well as art deco flats from the 1920s and 1930s. Modern apartment blocks are plentiful, too.

Kingston-upon-Thames wears its history well, its streets a blend of Victorian and Edwardian styles, many converted into smaller apartments. Look for a growing supply of newbuild apartments.

One of the first London suburbs of the late Victorian era, Merton has a wide variety of property on view, from the grand Victorian villas around Wimbledon to the terraces of Mitcham and Morden. Townhouses and apartments are a feature of the many newbuild developments across the borough.

Another borough that grew up with the railways, Sutton is - like Merton - a mix of architectural styles. There are Victorian and Edwardian homes, along with art deco properties and a garden suburb to covet, plus large family detached and semi-detached homes dating from the 1920s and 1930s.

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:

Richmond-upon-Thames: £687,137 (detached £1,463,982; semi £975,307; terraced £777,533; flats/maisonettes £467,789)

Kingston-upon-Thames: £491,174 (detached £999,411; semi £656,498; terraced £483,869; flats/maisonettes £344,403)

Merton: £529,927 (detached £1,554,952; semi £815,713; terraced £569,835; flats/maisonettes £388,943)

Sutton: £371,550 (detached £865,330; semi £527,222; terraced £368,586; flats/maisonettes £258,250)

What will my council tax bill be in South-West London?

Each borough sets the council tax rates for its own area. 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, here are the most popular Band D council tax rate and a link to the borough website where all ratings and costs are listed:

Richmond-upon-Thames: £1,871.64

Kingston-upon-Thames: £1,974.80

Merton: £1,608.99

Sutton: £1,760.69

What are transport links like in South-West London?

All four of the South-West London boroughs benefit from excellent public transport links, including tram services in Sutton. Check the Transport for London website for full details of all services, including Underground, Overground and rail. In the wider London area, rail services from east to west and beyond will be improved when the Elizabeth Line, the first part of Crossrail, opens in 2021.

How good are broadband speeds in South-West London?

London's boroughs can all access full-fibre broadband. However, speeds do vary from area to area. Put your postcode into a broadband comparison site to find out the speeds you might expect at your new South-West London property.

What are schools like in South-West London?

In Richmond-upon-Thames, Ofsted has rated 30 schools as outstanding; Kingston-upon-Thames has 16 schools rated as outstanding; the borough of Merton has 16 schools rated as outstanding; and Sutton has 18 schools given the outstanding rating. You can check the rating of your chosen school on the government's school comparison website.

How important is a flood-risk search when buying in South-West London?

The capital's main defence against flooding is the Thames Barrier at Woolwich. However, all areas of the capital - especially those like Richmond-upon-Thames and Kingston-upon-Thames - have a potential flood. Home buyers should always consider instructing a flood risk search as part of conveyancing in South-West London. This will reveal whether the area has historically been at risk of flooding. The most up-to-date information on flood risk is available at the Environment Agency's flood-warning service.

Is a chancel repair search necessary when buying property in South-West London?

Chancel repair liability is a rarely imposed but expensive charge that can be applied by historic Church of England parishes. Its roots are in the church's formation in the 16th century. Read more in our detailed guide on chancel repair liability. Your South-West London conveyancing solicitor will advise when a chancel repair liability search is essential for a property purchase.

Are there conservation areas in South-West London buyers should be aware of?

Like every part of London, the four boroughs featured in our south-west guide have been at the centre of major redevelopment and regeneration projects recently. And, like every part of London, these four boroughs are also home to areas of significant architectural and historical interest. These are protected by conservation areas where strict rules apply on any alterations that can be made. For example, this can affect replacement windows and doors and even whether you can put up a satellite dish. In Richmond-upon-Thames, there are currently 85 conservation areas, including the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. Kingston-upon-Thames has 26 conservation areas, such as Kingston Old Town and Surbiton town centre. In Merton, there are 28 conservation areas, including many areas around Wimbledon. And Sutton's 15 conservation areas include Carshalton Village and Sutton Garden Suburb. When buying a home in South-West London, 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-West London?

A very long history of industry across all London's borough means many areas of the capital have been left with brownfield land that may be contaminated by past use. This land must be remediated or cleaned up before it can be reused. As many new developments are taking place on brownfield land, savvy home buyers can ensure they know of the land's history by asking their South-West London conveyancing solicitor to instruct an environmental search. By law, the borough councils must keep an up-to-date register of all identified contaminated land.

We're buying a property at auction in South-West London - can you help?

We can definitely help with all property auction conveyancing in south-east London. And our advice is to get your legal help in place before making a bid. This gives your lawyer time to examine the lot's legal pack and ensure your purchase will be complete within the deadline, usually 28 days. Read more in our guide to conveyancing for auction property. At Homeward Legal, we work with a panel of expert property law firms who have completed many auction conveyancing transactions, including from Auction House London, Allsop (commercial and residential), Award Property, Barnett Ross, Baxtons, Acuitus, Phillip Arnold Auctions, Countrywide Property Auctions and Drivers & Norris.