Buying or selling a property is as much a legal process as it is a personal one. Alongside your Chestertons team, you'll need conveyancing solicitors you can trust to manage the legal transfer of ownership, carefully and without unnecessary delay.
We work with a panel of experienced conveyancing solicitors in London, chosen for their knowledge of the capital's property market and their record of keeping transactions moving. Whether you're buying your first flat, selling a family home, or managing a portfolio, we can introduce you to a solicitor suited to your transaction and help you get a property conveyancing quote before you commit.
A conveyancing solicitor (or licensed conveyancer) handles the legal work behind a property transaction, from the moment an offer is accepted through to completion. Their role typically includes:
Drafting and reviewing the contract of sale
Carrying out local authority, water and environmental searches
Checking the title, lease (where applicable) and any restrictions on the property
Liaising with the other side's solicitor, your mortgage lender and your estate agent
Handling exchange of contracts and, on completion, the transfer of funds
Registering the change of ownership with HM Land Registry and settling any Stamp Duty due
Leasehold sales and new build purchases usually involve extra steps including reviewing the lease, service charge accounts and any management pack, so it's worth confirming a solicitor's leasehold experience before you instruct them.
Chestertons is built on the idea that you shouldn't have to choose between local knowledge and London-wide reach, and the same principle applies to the legal side of your move. Our trusted conveyancing partners combine:
Local expertise: firms who understand the boroughs and buildings your local Chestertons branch knows well, from period conversions to new developments
London-wide experience: solicitors used to the pace and detail of the capital's property market, working across our full network of branches
Direct coordination: your solicitor and your Chestertons negotiator or lettings manager stay in step, so nothing falls between the two
For sellers, we also work with our trusted legal partner Leadenhall Law Group (LLG) through our Sale Ready service. LLG carries out pre-sale legal checks and prepares a full legal pack while your property is being marketed, including title and lease review, searches and a ready-made contract pack, which can reduce the time from accepted offer to exchange from around 120 days to as little as 45.
Your local branch can talk you through the options and make an introduction, or you're welcome to instruct a solicitor of your own choosing.
1. Instruction
Once your offer is accepted (or you've accepted one as a seller), you instruct your solicitor and they open the file. The sooner this happens; the sooner things can move.
2. Contract and searches
Your solicitor requests the draft contract, raises enquiries with the other side, and carries out property searches to check for anything that might affect the purchase, such as planning history or flood risk.
3. Mortgage and survey
If you're buying with a mortgage, your solicitor will liaise with your lender once your survey and mortgage offer are in place, confirming the funds are ready to release ahead of exchange.
4. Exchange of contracts
Once enquiries are resolved and both sides are ready, contracts are exchanged and a completion date is fixed. At this point, the transaction becomes legally binding.
5. Completion
On completion day, funds are transferred, keys are released, and your solicitor registers the change of ownership with HM Land Registry.
We'd always recommend getting a property conveyancing quote early, ideally before you start viewing, if you're buying, so you know your legal costs alongside the price of the property itself. A typical quote will set out:
The solicitor's fee for the transaction
Disbursements, i.e. the third-party costs paid on your behalf, such as search fees and Land Registry fees
Stamp Duty Land Tax, where applicable, based on the purchase price
Any additional charges for leasehold properties, mortgages, or Help to Buy
Ask your branch for an introduction to our trusted legal partners, and they'll arrange a quote tailored to your transaction, with no obligation to instruct.
How long does conveyancing take?
Most straightforward transactions complete within eight to twelve weeks from offer to completion, though leasehold sales, onward chains and mortgage timelines can extend this. Your solicitor will keep you updated on progress at each stage.
Do I have to use a Chestertons recommended solicitor?
No. We're happy to introduce you to a solicitor, but you're free to instruct a firm of your own choosing. Either way, our team will coordinate with them throughout your sale or purchase.
What's the difference between a solicitor and a licensed conveyancer?
Both are qualified to handle the legal side of a property transaction. Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and can advise on wider legal matters; licensed conveyancers are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers and specialise solely in property.
As early as possible. If you're selling, it's worth instructing a solicitor as soon as you decide to put your property on the market, so they can start preparing the contract pack ahead of an offer being accepted.
For more on the wider process, take a look at our Buying guide, our Selling guide, and Mortgages & finance for guidance on funding your move.