Located in the north-west of England, Cheshire is a mixture of natural landscapes and rural settings, industrial history and everything in between, offering a wide variety of different properties for the prospective buyer, while being a market in demand if you are planning to sell. So, whether you are looking to buy a terraced property in the market town of Macclesfield, purchasing a lease on a flat in the largest town in the county, Warrington, or simply looking to take some of the equity out of your bungalow in the county town of Chester, Homeward Legal's team of expert conveyancers are waiting to guide you through the legal process.
You'll be assigned a conveyancer solicitor who has the knowledge and experience of Cheshire and its housing market and who will use their skills to define and overcome how the property you are wanting to sell, buy or remortgage is affected by the common legal issues, so that you can be assured of a high-quality service that comes at a value-for-money price.
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Why choose Homeward Legal for your conveyancing in Cheshire
We've established an excellent reputation you can trust and helped over 30,000 customers in the past 13 years.
Our residential conveyancing solicitors are regulated under the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
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Fixed Legal Fee policy
No hidden costs - the legal fee you get quoted is definitive.
No-Completion, No-Fee policy
You won't pay any legal fees if your move falls through for any reason.
Search & survey protection
You won't pay for your next search and survey if your transaction falls through.
Complete support
Dedicated customer service from start to finish. We are open 6 days a week.
Local knowledge
Solicitors with offices across England and Wales.
Simple & straightforward
No confusion with legal jargon - just plain and simple English.
Knowledgeable, quick and easy to communicate with
I've used Mark at Homeward Legal twice and both times he's been very knowledgeable, quick and easy to communicate with. Both conveyancers that I've used through homeward have been priced competitively and responsive - something I haven't always experienced with conveyancers! Thanks Mark for all the help
Current market trends in Cheshire
You've decided to buy a property in Chester and it's important to know everything you can about the area, the local authority requirements and the specifics that might affect the purchase or your enjoyment of the home once you're in it. Therefore, you can be assured that the Homeward Legal conveyancing team fully understands your needs, whether you're considering the multi-cultural vibrancy of Warrington, the proximity to the city centre that a home in Widnes will afford, or the sporting hub of rugby that is St. Helens.
- Average property price: £280,000 (all property types)
- Most active areas: Wilmslow, Macclesfield, Knutsford, and Crewe
- Typical conveyancing timeframe: 8-12 weeks for standard transactions
- Annual price growth: +7.5% year-on-year
Sources: Rightmove, Zoopla, Land Registry, Homeward Legal internal data
updated may 2025
Essential local searches for Cheshire properties
Purchasing property in Cheshire requires specialised searches due to the county's extensive salt mining heritage and brine pumping history. Our experienced conveyancers conduct thorough investigations covering:
Local authority searches
Cheshire's unitary authorities handle planning applications, building control, and local land charges across distinct areas with different policies and procedures. These searches reveal planning permissions, conservation area controls, listed building restrictions, and development constraints specific to your property's location.
Learn more about local authority search >
Mining searches
Mandatory for properties within the Cheshire Brine Subsidence Compensation District, covering areas affected by historic salt extraction and brine pumping. These specialist searches assess subsidence risks from underground salt dissolution, identify consultation areas requiring special foundation designs, and check compensation eligibility for future damage claims.
Learn more about mining searches >
Environmental searches
Important across Cheshire due to potential contamination from historic industrial activities, salt processing, and chemical manufacturing heritage. These searches identify soil and groundwater contamination risks that could affect your property's safety and development potential.
Learn more about environmental search >
Flood risk searches
Essential for many Cheshire properties due to the county's river systems and surface water flooding risks. Cheshire East and West councils have comprehensive flood risk management strategies addressing both river flooding and surface water issues across the area.
Learn more about water and drainage search >
Heritage and conservation considerations
Cheshire contains numerous historic market towns, conservation areas, and listed buildings requiring careful assessment of development restrictions and conservation controls that may affect your future property plans.
Location resources for Cheshire property transactions
Online tools for researching Cheshire properties, planning history, and local considerations.
- Cheshire East Council planning portal - Search planning applications and decisions in Cheshire East areas
- Cheshire West and Chester Council planning portal - Search planning applications and decisions in Cheshire West and Chester areas
- Cheshire Brine Subsidence Compensation Board - Check brine subsidence risks and compensation claims in Cheshire
- Land Registry price paid data - Search actual property sale prices across Cheshire
- Environment Agency flood risk maps - Check flood risk for properties near River Dee, Mersey and Weaver
Our conveyancing services in Cheshire
From purchase to remortgage - we handle it all
Buying a property in Cheshire
Your solicitor's responsibilities will include:
- Initial verification - confirms the seller has legal right to sell and the property is free from issues.
- Property searches - conducts comprehensive local authority and environmental searches to identify potential problems.
- Property enquiries - raises detailed questions with the seller's solicitor about the property's use and history.
- Contract review - examines all legal documentation and ensures terms protect your interests.
- Mortgage coordination - liaises with your lender to arrange mortgage approval and legal requirements.
- Exchange management - finalises contract terms and coordinates exchange making the purchase legally binding.
- Completion coordination - handles final transfer, arranges mortgage funds, and ensures you receive the keys.
- Local expertise - provides knowledge of local property laws and procedures in Cheshire.
Selling a property in Cheshire
Your solicitor's responsibilities will include:
- Ownership verification & documentation - confirms you have clear legal title and right to sell, then prepares all legal contracts and documentation for the sale.
- Property enquiries response - answers all legal questions raised by the buyer's solicitor about the property.
- Issue resolution - investigates and resolves any legal concerns or defects identified during the process.
- Mortgage coordination - liaises with your lender to arrange mortgage discharge and settlement.
- Exchange management - finalises contract terms and coordinates the exchange of contracts with the buyer's solicitor.
- Completion coordination - handles the final transfer, receives sale proceeds, pays off your mortgage, and transfers remaining funds to you.
- Local expertise - provides knowledge of local property laws and procedures in Cheshire.
Buying and selling a property in Cheshire
Your solicitor's responsibilities will include:
- Chain coordination & timeline management - manages both transactions simultaneously to align completion dates and ensure smooth progression.
- Dual contract management - handles sale and purchase contracts together, ensuring all terms work in harmony.
- Financial coordination - manages deposit flows and fund transfers between your sale and purchase.
- Synchronised exchange & completion - coordinates both exchanges and completions to happen seamlessly on the same day.
- Local expertise - provides knowledge of local property laws and procedures in Cheshire.
Remortgaging a property in Cheshire
Your solicitor's responsibilities will include:
- Initial assessment & lender liaison - coordinates between old and new mortgage providers while reviewing your property title.
- Legal documentation & verification - handles all required paperwork and confirms property ownership and restrictions.
- Discharge coordination - arranges settlement of existing mortgage and manages fund transfers.
- Registration completion - updates Land Registry records with new mortgage details and finalises the process.
- Local expertise - provides knowledge of local property laws and procedures in Cheshire.
Transfer of equity in Cheshire
Your solicitor's responsibilities will include:
- Initial assessment & transfer preparation - reviews current ownership structure and prepares all necessary transfer documentation.
- Documentation & duty management - handles deed preparation and arranges stamp duty calculations and payments.
- Legal completion & registration - finalises the equity transfer and updates all Land Registry records.
- Support & coordination - provides guidance throughout and ensures smooth completion of the equity transfer.
- Local expertise - provides knowledge of local property laws and procedures in Cheshire.
Cheshire area property guide
Understanding Cheshire's diverse neighborhoods
Ellesmere Port
The estuary town of Ellesmere Port, sitting at the mouth of the famous River Mersey to the west of Cheshire, is a bustling industrial town that is best known for its oil refining and chemical businesses, as well as construction of cars. Of course, you'll want to know that such an industrial past and present doesn't impact your enjoyment of the new home, so your Homeward Legal conveyancing solicitor will carry out checks for ground contamination and air pollution as a critical search.
Knutsford
To the east of the county of Cheshire, Knutsford balances the beauty of its rural location with the bustling liveliness that is a great place for people to visit, with its views, independent shops, variety of eateries and watering holes, as well as being a great base for visiting Tatton Park. With its town centre being a conservation area, you'll want to know of the existence of any covenants and planning constraints that might exist affecting the property you're interested in.
Runcorn
One of the oldest towns in Cheshire, Runcorn was designated as a new town in the early sixties and has since expanded considerably. Being a port town on the south bank of the Mersey, with its impressive Silver Jubilee Bridge spanning the river, it is a hive of activity and a fine location to live to reduce the daily commute. Your conveyancing solicitor will be checking what infrastructure projects might have been agreed to cope with the demand of managing the cargo.
Did you know?
Jodrell Bank in the east of Cheshire is famous for the work it has done to uncover what is happening in the universe beyond our tiny planet, and it possesses the third largest movable telescope in the world today. Its place in history has been assured in the fictional world, too, as it is mentioned several times in Doctor Who stories (indeed Tom Baker was planned to metamorphose into Peter Davison, but filming was moved elsewhere) and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
The Cheshire Cat, from Lewis Carol's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland where it is depicted as being somewhat mischievous, has a long local history. It's not known where “grinning like a Cheshire cat” comes from but it predates Carroll's story by at least a century or so. The most accepted origin of the term comes from the Cheshire dairy farms where cats were very happy because of their access to quantities of milk and cream.
Start your Cheshire conveyancing journey today
Get expert Cheshire conveyancing from solicitors who understand salt mining heritage, subsidence risks, and local council requirements.
Call now for your free quote - we know Cheshire's unique property challenges.
Frequently asked questions about conveyancing in Cheshire
What makes conveyancing in Cheshire different from other areas?
Cheshire requires specialist knowledge due to its salt mining heritage, dual council structure, and premium property markets. Our conveyancers understand the specific searches required, local authority procedures across both Cheshire East and West councils, and the unique challenges that can arise during transactions.
How long does conveyancing take in Cheshire?
While the UK average is 8-12 weeks, we'll provide realistic timescales based on your property type and location. Properties requiring specialist salt mining searches may need additional time, while transactions in established areas often progress smoothly. We keep you informed throughout the process.
How much does conveyancing cost in Cheshire?
Our conveyancing legal fees in Cheshire start from £510 for a standard purchase transaction, with a transparent breakdown of all costs provided upfront. Unlike many firms, we provide a Fixed Legal fee guarantee and No Completion, No Fee protection, ensuring you know exactly what you'll pay with no hidden surprises.
Do I need to visit your offices for Cheshire conveyancing?
No, our modern online conveyancing service means the entire process can be managed remotely. While we don't have physical offices in Cheshire, our solicitors have extensive experience with both Cheshire East and West council procedures and the local property market nuances.
What happens if searches reveal issues with my Cheshire property?
Our experienced conveyancers will explain any findings clearly and advise on your options. Whether it's subsidence risks, planning restrictions, or other concerns, we can negotiate with sellers, arrange additional investigations, or help you make informed decisions about proceeding with your purchase.
How do you handle the different council areas in Cheshire?
We're experienced with both Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester council procedures, understanding their different policies and timescales. This local knowledge ensures your transaction progresses efficiently regardless of which authority area your property falls within.
