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Conveyancing in Rochester : Keep it Local

Rochester Conveyancing Statistics*

  • 1 Percentage of cases in Rochester that are buy to let is 11%
  • 2 87% freehold and 13% leasehold conveyancing in Rochester for this year to date
  • 3 Percentage of leasehold conveyancing purchases in Rochester is 11% where there is a share in the management company or freehold company
  • 4 Average Land Registry Fee for this year to date was £270
  • 5 Average Stamp Duty Payable for this year to date was £7,540

Examples of recent conveyancing in Rochester since April 2026*

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Sale

of flat Corys Road ME1 1GL, at the agreed sum of £290,000. Leasehold conveyancing included: dealing with appropriate requisitions and enquiries, obtaining official copies of the title, agreeing completion date with parties

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Conveyance

of flat Darwin Court ME1 1HP, acquired for £147,500. Leasehold conveyancing legalities included: dealing with appropriate requisitions and enquiries, taking formal instructions from and updating the seller client, obtaining official copies of the title

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Purchase

of flat Doust Way ME1 1FF, acquired for £182,500. Leasehold conveyancing investigations included: taking formal instructions from and updating the seller client, securing official copies of the title, agreeing completion date with parties

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Transfer

of semi premises, Church Street, ME1 2DA completing on 15/05/2026 at a price of £250,000. The legal transfer of property included amongst the various tasks: sending the transfer to the vendor for execution in readiness for completion, taking formal instructions from and updating the seller client, sending title deeds and signed transfer to buyer’s solicitor

Recently asked questions about conveyancing in Rochester

Me and my partner are purchasing an apartment in Rochester. My Solicitor has never been on on the mortgage company solicitor panel. Am I still permitted to retain my Rochester conveyancing solicitor even though they are excluded from the lender list of approved lawyers?

One will need to use a conveyancer to deal with the formalities if you need a mortgage to buy your home. They will carry out all the essential due diligence on the property, ensuring that you’re properly registered as the owner and ensure that all the required mortgage documentation is in place. One can instruct a Rochester lawyer of your choice. However, where the conveyancing practitioner selected is not on the mortgage company solicitor panel additional charges will be incurred as separate legal representation will be need by the lender. Bank panel applications can be submitted, so if your solicitor has not previously sought membership they should take the opportunity to apply.

I am purchasing a semi-detached house in Rochester. How practical is it for me to do the conveyancing?

Leaving aside the complexities and merits of DIY conveyancing in Rochester you will have to appoint a solicitor on your lender's conveyancing panel to look after their interests. Most people therefore find it easier to let the solicitor act for them and the lender. Furthermore there is minimal cost savings to be made in you doing conveyancing for yourself and another lawyer conducting the conveyancing for the lender. Please feel free to use the search tool to find a lawyer on your lender panel in Rochester.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in Rochester. Conveyancing is a frightening process at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. What sort of enquires would be asked in new build conveyancing.

Here is a sample of a few leasehold new build questions that you should expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in Rochester

    If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal. Please confirm the Lease plans are architect prepared. Has the Lease plan been approved by the Land Registry and if not when will they be lodged for this purpose? Forfeiture - bankruptcy or liquidation must not apply under this provision.

I've recently found out that there is a flying freehold issue on a property I have offered on a fortnight ago in what should have been a quick, chain free conveyancing. Rochester is where the house is located. Can you offer any guidance?

Flying freeholds in Rochester are not the norm but are more likely to exist in relation to terraced houses. Even where you use a solicitor outside Rochester you must be sure that your lawyer goes through the deeds diligently. Your lender may require your conveyancing solicitor to take out an indemnity policy. Some of the more diligent conveyancing solicitors in Rochester may ascertain 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 residence.

Our conveyancer has advised that he intends to complete and exchange simultaneously on our sale of a £350,000 flat in Rochester in 8 days. The managing agents has quoted £360 for Landlord’s certificate, insurance certificate and 3 years statements of service charge. Is it legal for a freeholder to charge an administration fee for a leasehold conveyance in Rochester?

For most leasehold sales in Rochester conveyancing will involve, questions about the management of a building inevitably needing to be answered directly by the freeholder or its agent, this includes :

    Answering conveyancing due diligence questions Where consent is required before sale in Rochester Copies of the building insurance and schedule Deeds of covenant upon sale Registering of the assignment of the change of lessee after a sale
Your lawyer will have no control over the level of the charges for this information but the average costs for the information for Rochester leasehold property is £350. For Rochester conveyancing transactions it is customary for the seller to pay for these costs. The landlord or their agents are under no legal obligation to answer such questions most will be willing to do so - albeit often at exorbitant prices where the fees bear little relation to the work involved. Unfortunately there is no law that requires fixed charges for administrative tasks. Neither is there any legal time frame by which they are required to supply the information.

I purchased a basement flat in Rochester, conveyancing formalities finalised October 2008. How much will my lease extension cost? Corresponding properties in Rochester with a long lease are worth £260,000. The average or mid-range amount of ground rent is £45 yearly. The lease comes to an end on 21st October 2100

With only 74 years unexpired we estimate the price of your lease extension to span between £8,600 and £9,800 plus plus your own and the landlord's "reasonable" professional fees.

The suggested premium range that we have given is a general guide to costs for extending a lease, but we cannot give you a more accurate figure in the absence of comprehensive due diligence. Do not use the figures in tribunal or court proceedings. There may be other issues that need to be taken into account and you obviously should be as accurate as possible in your negotiations. You should not take any other action placing reliance on this information without first seeking the advice of a professional.

Would local authority permission be necessary to split a single dwelling into multiple appartments in Rochester? This has been done to a house opposite to a friend in Rochester and was not aware of the conversion until after the works were finished.

Planning Consent yes. Building Regulations yes.

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Sample of conveyancing solicitors in Rochester regulated by the SRA

It is important to note that the listed firms do not limit their work for conveyancing in Rochester but also conveyancing throughout England and Wales.

  • Bassets, 156 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1ET
  • Sara Binning Solicitors, Dickens Suite, Cheldgate House, 45 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1LP
  • Dakers Marriott Dugdale Limited, Unit 3 Exeter House, Beaufort Court, Sir Thomas Longley Road, Rochester, Kent, ME2 4FE
  • Winch & Winch, 5 New Road Avenue, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6AR
  • Stephens & Son Llp, Rome House, 41 Railway Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4RP

Residential Landlord and Tenant Conveyancing solicitors in Rochester

The firms listed below are a small selection of solicitors in Rochester with expertise in landlord and tenant law and on the regulations governing different types of tenancies. This should include advice on service charge disputes and the right to manage

  • Bassets, 156 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1ET
  • Sara Binning Solicitors, Dickens Suite, Cheldgate House, 45 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1LP
  • Dakers Marriott Dugdale Limited, Unit 3 Exeter House, Beaufort Court, Sir Thomas Longley Road, Rochester, Kent, ME2 4FE
  • Winch & Winch, 5 New Road Avenue, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6AR
  • Stephens & Son Llp, Rome House, 41 Railway Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4RP

Commercial Conveyancing solicitors in Rochester regulated by the SRA

The list below is a small selection of solicitors in Rochester practicing in commercial conveyancing in Rochester. This will likely include advice on granting a lease to a commercial tenant
  • Bassets, 156 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1ET
  • Dakers Marriott Dugdale Limited, Unit 3 Exeter House, Beaufort Court, Sir Thomas Longley Road, Rochester, Kent, ME2 4FE
  • Winch & Winch, 5 New Road Avenue, Chatham, Kent, ME4 6AR
  • Kingsley Smith Solicitors Llp, 81 High Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4EE
  • The Kingsley Smith Trustee Company, 81 High Street, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4EE

*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.