Conveyancing Services in Reading & Caversham

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership. While we specialise in mortgages, we work with trusted conveyancing solicitors who provide efficient, cost-effective legal services for property transactions. We can introduce you to conveyancers who understand both the local Reading and national market and provide transparent fixed-fee quotes.

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing covers all the legal work involved in buying or selling property. This includes conducting property searches, checking title deeds, handling the contract exchange, managing the transfer of funds, and registering the new ownership with the Land Registry.

Our Conveyancing Services

Buying Conveyancing: Complete legal support for property purchases
Selling Conveyancing: Efficient handling of property sales
Remortgage Conveyancing: Legal work for remortgaging your property
Transfer of Equity: Legal support for adding or removing names from property ownership

Why use our conveyancing service?

Trusted Partners

We work with experienced conveyancers who we trust to deliver quality service.

Transparent Pricing

Fixed-fee quotes with no hidden costs.

Local Knowledge

Conveyancers who understand the Reading and Berkshire property market.

Coordinated Service

We coordinate between your mortgage and legal work for a smoother process.

Common questions about conveyancing

What does a conveyancer do?

A conveyancer handles all the legal work involved in buying or selling property. This includes: conducting property searches to check for issues like flooding or planning restrictions, reviewing and preparing contracts, liaising with the other party’s conveyancer, arranging the transfer of funds on completion day, registering the property in your name with the Land Registry, and ensuring you have legal title to the property. They act in your best interests throughout the transaction.

How much does conveyancing cost?

Conveyancing fees typically range from £800-£1,500 plus VAT for straightforward transactions, though this varies by property value and complexity. Additional costs include searches (£250-£400), Land Registry fees (£40-£910 depending on property value), and bank transfer fees (around £50). Conveyancing for leasehold property generally costs more. We work with conveyancers who provide transparent fixed-fee quotes so you know exactly what you will pay upfront with no hidden charges.

How long does conveyancing take?

Conveyancing typically takes 8-12 weeks from offer acceptance to completion, though this varies considerably. A simple purchase with no chain might complete in 6-8 weeks, while complex chains can take 3-4 months or longer. Factors affecting timing include: how quickly searches are returned, whether there are any issues with the property or title, mortgage lender processing times, and the speed of other parties in the chain.

What are property searches and why are they important?

Property searches check for issues that could affect the property or your enjoyment of it. Standard searches include: local authority searches (planning, building control, local land charges), environmental searches (flooding, contamination), water and drainage searches, and sometimes coal mining or chancel repair searches. These searches can reveal problems like planned road developments, flooding risk, or disputes over boundaries. Your conveyancer reviews all search results and advises if any issues need addressing.

What is the difference between freehold and leasehold?

Freehold means you own the property and the land it sits on outright. Leasehold means you own the property for a fixed period (the lease term) but not the land—you pay ground rent to the freeholder. Most houses are freehold while many flats are leasehold. Leasehold properties require additional checks including reviewing the lease terms, ground rent, service charges, and remaining lease length. Leases under 80 years can be difficult to mortgage and expensive to extend.

What is exchange of contracts and completion?

Exchange of contracts is when both parties sign the contract and it becomes legally binding, you are committed to buying and the seller is committed to selling. You pay your deposit (typically 10%) at exchange. Completion is when the remaining money is transferred, you get the keys, and the property becomes yours. Usually exchange and completion are 1-2 weeks apart, though they can happen on the same day. Once contracts are exchanged, backing out means losing your deposit and potentially being sued.

Do I need conveyancing for remortgaging?

Yes, remortgaging requires legal work, though it is simpler than buying or selling. Your new lender needs to register their charge (mortgage) against the property and the old lender’s charge needs to be removed. Remortgage conveyancing is usually cheaper than purchase conveyancing and the costs may be covered by the new lender.

What happens if problems are found during conveyancing?

Your conveyancer will identify any issues and advise you of the risks. Common problems include: issues with title (ownership), planning permission breaches, boundary disputes, or unusual restrictions on the property. Depending on severity, you might: renegotiate the price, require the seller to resolve the issue, take out indemnity policies or insurance to cover the risk, or in serious cases, withdraw from the purchase. Your conveyancer guides you through the options.

Conveyancing and other legal services are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

The products and services promoted here are not part of The Openwork Partnership offering and The Openwork Partnership accept no responsibility for this aspect of our business

Conveyancing Services in Reading & Caversham

What is conveyancing?

Why use our conveyancing service?

Trusted Partners

Transparent Pricing

Local Knowledge

Coordinated Service

Common questions about conveyancing

Conveyancing and other legal services are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Ready to Get Started?

Call Us

Email Us

WhatsApp us

Templar Mortgages

Products & Services

Contact Info