Conveyancing in Southampton

What is involved in conveyancing in Southampton?

The paperwork and legal formalities required to buy and sell property, to remortgage and to transfer equity is known as conveyancing. When you instruct a Southampton conveyancing solicitor, they will carry out a number of activities, including instructing searches, negotiating on the price, exchanging contracts and transferring the funds on completion day. Our Southampton conveyancing solicitors are all fully qualified professionals, and their job is to do all the legal legwork so that you don't have to worry. Find out more about the conveyancing services we offer here.

How do I get a quote for Southampton conveyancing?

Get an instant quote for conveyancing in Southampton using our online quote builder. You'll be asked for some details about you and about the property involved. You can also call our team on - we're open seven days for your convenience.

Why should I choose a Southampton conveyancing solicitor through Homeward Legal?

Our strong focus on customer service and competitive pricing makes Homeward Legal the ideal choice for Southampton conveyancing. For customers, we also:

• Keep things simple by using plain English and avoiding confusing legal jargon.
• Offer no-completion protection so you won't have any legal fees to pay if your transaction fails to complete for any reason.
• The legal fee you are quoted for conveyancing in Southampton will be exactly what you pay, with no hidden costs*.
• Work only with solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.
• Put the customer first every time. Read the hundreds of positive Trustpilot reviews for Homeward Legal's service that show high customer satisfaction.

*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 Southampton cost?

Your final bill for conveyancing in Southampton will depend on a number of factors, such as the value of the property and whether it is freehold or leasehold. Expect the total cost to include solicitors' fees, surveyor costs and Stamp Duty Land Tax*** when buying, Land Registry fees, searches and bank transfer fees. Our guide to average conveyancing fees offers more information on the costs involved in Southampton conveyancing.

***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.

How much does the average property cost in Southampton?

The most recent 2020 sold house price data from the Land Registry reveals that the average property costs £210,126 in Southampton. Detached properties sell for an average £356,823 and semi-detached homes for £256,759. Terraced homes sell for £211,930 and maisonettes and flats for an average £153,201.

What will my council tax add up to in Southampton?

The local authority is Southampton City Council, which sets the city's council tax rates. All residential property is placed into one of eight bands depending on its valuation. Find out which band your property is in on the government's valuation website.

The 2020-21 council tax rates in Southampton are:

How good are broadband speeds in Southampton?

A massive rollout programme in 2019 by Virgin Media gave around 100,000 homes in Southampton access to gigabit broadband, ensuring superfast speeds around the city. You can pop your postcode into a broadband comparison site and get an idea of the speeds available at your new home.

How do schools rate in Southampton?

There are 62 primary and 19 secondary schools in Southampton with 11 sixth form and further education colleges. Ofsted rates 13 schools in Southampton as outstanding. You can use the government school performance website to check a school's rating.

Southampton is home to two universities: The University of Southampton and Solent University who bring in a combined 34,000 students every academic year.

Is contaminated land an issue in Southampton?

Contaminated land is usually land that has been formerly used for industry, such as factories and mines, quarries and landfill. This land must be remediated (cleaned up) before being used again to ensure there's no pollution risk to people or the environment. By law, Southampton City Council keeps a register of any contaminated land that has been identified in the city. Your Southampton conveyancing solicitor will instruct an environmental search to reveal any potential issue around contaminated land.

Do we need a chancel repair liability search when buying in Southampton?

Your Southampton conveyancing solicitor will advise if you need a chancel repair liability search, which is a historic charge linked to Church of England parishes. We've provided a detailed guide to this liability, which dates back to Henry VIII and has in the past caused serious financial hardship to people who did not know they were responsible for repairs to the local church's chancel or altar. Where your property purchase might be affected by chancel repairs, your Southampton solicitor can advise on the next step, such as taking out indemnity insurance.

Are there conservation areas in Southampton we should be aware of?

Conservation areas are those designated as having special architectural or historical importance. Their importance means they have stricter planning rules on everything from cutting down trees to putting up a satellite dish or replacing your windows. There are currently 20 conservation areas in Southampton, including Bassett Green Village and Oxford Street. Your Southampton conveyancing solicitor will commission a local authority search that will reveal any current or historic planning consents.

Should we instruct a conveyancing solicitor before we buy a property at auction in Southampton?

We think the best advice is always to instruct your Southampton conveyancing solicitor before bidding on any property at auction. The time frame for completing a transaction is very tight - often just 28 days - and instructing your solicitor beforehand allows them access to the legal pack on the lot you want to bid on. That gives them time to explore any issues and ensure they can seal the deal for you promptly. Check out our comprehensive guide to conveyancing for auction property. We work with a nationwide panel of 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.

How good are Southampton's transport links?

Southampton boasts excellent transport links with extensive air, rail, ferry and road connections. The city is Europe's largest cruise port with liners leaving Southampton for worldwide destinations and ferries connecting to the Isle of Wight.

The M3 offers a direct route to London and the M25 with the M27 linking to Portsmouth and towards the A27 and Brighton.

There are direct trains from Southampton Central to London Waterloo, Bournemouth and Winchester via South Western Railway while Southern Rail provides routes to Brighton, London Victoria and London Gatwick. Great Western Railway offers services to Bristol and Salisbury, while Cross-Country trains connects Southampton to Oxford, Birmingham and Manchester.

Located to the north-east of the city, Southampton Airport is close to both motorways, while passengers can reach the airport in just six minutes by train from the city centre and 20 minutes by bus.

A very flat city, Southampton is easy for pedestrians to walk around plus there's an extensive cycle lane network. Transport Southampton has all the information needed on the local bus services.