Find a Lender-Approved Local Conveyancer in Reading

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There is a good reason why you won’t find people saying “if only I would have chosen a cheap factory-type firm”! Go local - instruct a conveyancing solicitor in Reading

Reading Conveyancing Statistics*

  • 1 December was the busiest month and January was the next busiest month while April was the least busiest month of the year for conveyancing in Reading
  • 2 Average Land Registry Fee for this year to date was £270
  • 3 Percentage of leasehold conveyancing cases in Reading with service charge retention of 3%
  • 4 78% freehold and 22% leasehold conveyancing in Reading for this year to date
  • 5 Percentage of cases in Reading that are buy to let is 17%

Examples of recent conveyancing in Reading since January 2025*

Transfer

of detached residence property, Bluebell Way, RG18 4BX completing on 27/01/2025 at a price of £445,000. The conveyancing process incorporates some of the following tasks: sending conveyancing papers to buyers representatives, dealing with appropriate requisitions and enquiries, sending the transfer to the seller for execution in readiness for completion

Sale

of house premises, Glaisdale, RG19 3XJ completing on 27/01/2025 at a price of £350,000. The conveyancing process incorporates some of the following tasks: drafting the sale agreement and Transfer, obtaining official copies of the title, setting up the completion formalities

Disposal

of semi premises, Lambdens Walk, RG26 4JX completing on 24/01/2025 at a price of £335,000. The legal transfer of property included amongst the various tasks: sending conveyancing papers to buyers representatives, sending the transfer to the seller for execution in preparation for completion, securing official copies of the title

Transfer

of semi residence, Broadhalfpenny Lane, RG26 3TE completing on 24/01/2025 at a price of £600,000. The legal transfer of property incorporates some of the following tasks: drafting the sale agreement and Transfer, ordering official copies of the title, agreeing completion date with parties

Recently asked questions about conveyancing in Reading

I do hope you can help me. My Reading conveyancer is advising me that she is duty bound toapply for Reading conveyancing searches becausethe firm are on the Lloydsconveyancing panel. These Reading searches cost a lot of money can this be avoided?

Unfortunately both you and your lawyer have little choice here. Given that you are taking out a loan with a mortgage company your conveyancing practitioner has to comply with their conditions as set out in their version of the CML Conveyancing Handbook. Your property lawyer would have previously signed the Terms and Conditions of your bank’s conveyancing panel appointment which obliges them to comply with the CML Handbook specifications . Even if you were a cash buyer you would be ill advised not to carry out Reading conveyancing searches.

We note that you have a search directory listing firms on the Co-operative conveyancing panel. Do firms pay you a referral fee if I instruct them for our own conveyancing in Reading?

We are a listing service only for law firms wishing to communicate if they are on the Co-operative conveyancing panel or other lender panels. We do not charge referral fees to any conveyancer that you subsequently appoint for your conveyancing in Reading.

We have agreed to purchase a house in Reading. A rare aspect is that the roof has a solar panel. Co-operative have issued a mortgage offer so presumably this is not a concern to them. Why is my solicitor raising questions about the panel?

As your lender is Co-operative your lawyer must check the conveyancing requirements contained in Part 2 of UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook for Co-operative. The CML Handbook contains minimum requirements for solar panel roof-space leases, and lawyers are required to report to Co-operative where a lease does not meet these conditions. The provisions relate to the installation of panels on properties nationwide and is not limited to Reading.

I am due to exchange contracts on my apartment. I had a double glazing fitted in May 2007, but did not receive a FENSA certificate or Building Regulation Certificate. My purchaser’s mortgage company, Virgin Money are being pedantic. The Reading solicitor who is on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel is happy to accept ‘lack of building regulation’ insurance but Virgin Money are requiring a building regulation certificate. Why do Virgin Money have a conveyancing panel if they don't accept advice from them?

It is probably the case that Virgin Money have referred the matter to their valuer. The reason why Virgin Money may not want to accept indemnity insurance is because it does not give them any reassurance that the double glazing was correctly and safely installed. The indemnity insurance merely protects against enforcement action which is very unlikely anyway.

At last I have had an offer on a flat in Reading accepted, but there is a chain. The vendors have placed an offer on a property, but it’s not been accepted yet, and are looking at other apartments booked. I have instructed a bricks and mortar conveyancing solicitor in Reading. What do I do now? When should I get the mortgage application with Barclays started?

It is understandable to have apprehensions where there is a chain as you are unlikely to want to be too out of pocket prematurely (mortgage application is in the region of one thousand pounds, then survey, Reading conveyancing search charges, etc). The first thing to do is check that your conveyancer is on the Barclays conveyancing panel. Concerning the subsequent phase this very much dictated by the uniqueness of your transaction, motivation for the property and on the state of the market. During a buoyant market some buyers will apply for a home loan with Barclays and pay for the valuation and only if it was satisfactory would they pay their solicitor to proceed with the conveyancing in Reading.

What does a local search inform me concerning the property I am buying in Reading?

Reading conveyancing often commences with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search organisations such as Onsearch The local search plays a central role in many a Reading conveyancing purchase; that is if you don’t want any nasty surprises after you move into your new home. The search should provide information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the property (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 topic headings.

Yesterday I discovered that there is a flying freehold element on a property I have offered on a fortnight ago in what was supposed to be a straight forward, no chain conveyancing. Reading is the location of the property. Is there any guidance you can impart?

Flying freeholds in Reading are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even though you don't necessarily need a conveyancing solicitor in Reading you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds thoroughly. Your bank may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Reading may determine that this is not enough and that the deeds be re-written to give you the most up to date legal protection. If so, the next door neighbour also had to sign up to the revised deeds.It is possible that your lender will not accept the situation so the sooner you find out the better. You should also check with your insurance broker as to whether they will insure a flying freehold property.

I have been Googling for Reading online conveyancing estimates. Can I be confident that all the Reading practices that are listed on your website are on the mortgage company conveyancing panel?

The solicitor and licensed conveyancing practices on our directory have assured us via an online form that they are on the mortgage company panel and agreed to advise us to take down their listing in the event of removal off of the mortgage company panel. To date we have not been informed by either a bank or a member of the public that the data about a specific Reading firm being on the bank conveyancing panel is incorrect.

Last updated

Residential Landlord and Tenant Conveyancing solicitors in Reading

The firms listed below are a non-comprehensive list of solicitors in Reading with expertise in landlord and tenant law and on the regulations governing different types of tenancies. This will likely include advice on wrongful eviction

  • Lesley A Clay Solicitor, Wayside Cottage, The Slade, Bucklebury, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 6TE
  • John L Banky Solicitors, 18a High Street, Theale, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 5AN

Commercial Conveyancing solicitors in Reading regulated by the SRA

The list below is a small selection of solicitors in Reading specialising in commercial conveyancing in Reading. This could include advice on buying and selling small and large scale commercial property and agricultural land
  • John L Banky Solicitors, 18a High Street, Theale, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 5AN

Typically, Reading conveyancing for a purchase has some of the following tasks

  • Solicitor instructed by the purchaser on acceptance of the offer
  • Examining the title unregistered or registered
  • Undertaking Reading property searches for the property
  • Considering the draft contract pack and other papers forwarded by the owner’s lawyer
  • Raising enquiries with the vendor’s lawyer
  • Negotiating the sale agreement
  • Going through replies given by the owner to pre-exchange enquiries
  • Agreeing the wording for the Transfer document
  • Advising the buyer in respect of the mortgage offer: (where applicable)
  • Drawing up and sending the purchaser a report on title (that is; a breakdown of all findings on the property)
  • Proceeding to exchange of contracts and then preparing for completion
  • Completing and submitting to HM Revenue and Customs the appropriate stamp duty forms and payment
  • Dealing with the registration procedures for the change in ownership and the mortgage (if relevant) at the HMLR.

*Source acknowledgement: House price data produced by Land Registry as well data supplied by Lexsure Ltd.

© Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of Land Registry under delegated authority from the Controller of HMSO.