Find a Lender-Approved Local Conveyancer in West Sussex

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Selecting the right solicitor is the most important decision when it comes to your West Sussex house move

Top 5 reasons to use our service to assist you find a local conveyancing solicitor in West Sussex

  • 1 There is a better than average chance that the other side’s lawyers have offices in West Sussex - if so both parties will be on good working terms
  • 2 The mark of a good conveyancing solicitor in West Sussex is quality not quantity. The level of service offered by conveyancing "factories" (sometimes 'recommended' by national chain estate agents) sometimes falls short of the level of professionalism you will expect.
  • 3 Firms accustomed to conveyancing in West Sussex regularly deal withlocal concerns specific to West Sussex and therefore you may benefit from better guidance and expeditious conveyancing.
  • 4 Our site offers most comprehensive domestic conveyancing directory listing lender approved property lawyers carrying out conveyancing in West Sussex regulated and authorised by the SRA or Council of Licensed Conveyancers.
  • 5 The West Sussex conveyancing firms that are identified are dedicated to providing value for money, efficient and transparent conveyancing service to home buyers, sellers and remortgagors in West Sussex

Examples of recent conveyancing in West Sussex since December 2024*

Recently asked questions about conveyancing in West Sussex

Souldappointing a West Sussex conveyancing firm make my purchase more efficient?

West Sussex is a special area, where regional insight is a big bonus. The laid-back lifestyle is great – but not when it comes to your house move. The property lawyers that we endorse host deep West Sussex knowledge with a professional, can doattitude that helps everything runs smoothly. It will certainly help that they enjoy good relationships with mortgage brokers, estate agents, valuers and counterpart West Sussex conveyancing practitioners

Do the conveyancing solicitors Indexed on your site execute auction conveyancing in West Sussex?

There are a few auction lawyers we can put you in touch with those specialising in auction conveyancing. West Sussex is just one of hundreds of areas of in which our lawyers have offices.

I just bought a flat at auction in West Sussex. Conveyancing is necessary. What are my next steps?

Given that you have now legally committed yourself to purchase you now have to find a conveyancing solicitor quickly as you now have a tight deadline in which to complete the conveyancing. An auction property should have a corresponding legal set of papers. This will likely include evidence of title and search results. Where you are dealing with leasehold premises the auction pack may provide a copy of the lease, management information and a sellers leasehold information form and other conveyancing documentation relating to leasehold premises. You need to pass this on to the solicitor instructed by you as soon as possible. Do make sure that your finances are in order to complete the transaction on the set completion date.

is it true that all West Sussex conveyancing solicitors on the RBS conveyancing panel are overseen by the SRA?

As a firm of solicitors, in order to be on the RBS approved list of solicitors they would need to be regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. Many mortgage companies do allow licenced conveyancers on their panel and in that case the firms would be governed by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers.

I have decided to exercise my right to buy my property in West Sussex off the council. I have a mortgage agreed with Virgin Money. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should use one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with Virgin Money, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the Virgin Money conveyancing panel.

What does commercial conveyancing in West Sussex cover?

West Sussex conveyancing for business premises covers a broad range of guidance, supplied by qualified solicitors, relating to business premises. By way of example, this area of conveyancing can cover the sale or purchase of freehold business premises or, more usually, the assignment of existing leases or the drafting of new leasing arrangements. Commercial conveyancing solicitors can also offer advice on the sale of business assets, commercial mortgages and the termination of leases.

My brother has recommend that I use his conveyancers in West Sussex. Should I choose my own conveyancer?

There are no two ways about it the best way to find a conveyancing practitioner is to get feedback from friends or family who have experience in using the firm that you are contemplating using.

I’m about to sell my 2 bed apartment in West Sussex. Conveyancing has not commenced, but I have recently had a half-yearly maintenance charge demand – Do I pay up?

It best that you discharge the maintenance contribution as usual because all rents and maintenance invoices should be allotted on completion, so you will be reimbursed by the buyer for the period running from after the completion date to the subsequent invoice date. Most managing agents will not acknowledge the buyer until the service charges have been paid and are up to date, so it is important for both buyer and seller for the seller to show that they are up to date. This will smooth the conveyancing process.

West Sussex Conveyancing for Leasehold Flats - Sample of Queries Prior to Purchasing

    The majority of West Sussex leasehold flats will incur a service charge for maintenance of the building levied by the management company. Should you purchase the property you will have to meet this amount, normally in instalments throughout the year. This may differ from two or three hundred pounds to thousands of pounds for blocks with lifts and large communal areas. In all likelihood there will be a rentcharge for you to pay annual, ordinarily this is not a exorbitant amount, say approximately £50-£100 but you need to enquire it because occasionally it can be prohibitively expensive. For many West Sussex leaseholds the cost for major works are not included within maintenance charges, albeit that a few managing agents in West Sussex obliged tenants to pay into a reserve fund and this is used to offset against larger works. You should be aware if it is less than 80 years it will have adverse implications on the value of the property. Check with your bank that they are willing to go ahead with the loan given the lease term. Leases with less than 80 years remaining means that you will almost definitely have to extend the lease at some point and you need to have some idea of how much this would cost. Remember, in most cases you will be required to have owned the property for 24 months in order to be legally able to extend the lease.

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What to expect from a Licensed Conveyancer for conveyancing in West Sussex?

Licensed Conveyancers specialise in the legalities surrounding buying and selling property and cover conveyancing nationwide as well as West Sussex. When instructing a Licensed Conveyancer regulated by the CLC, you are entitled to:
  • Be supplied with an honest and lawful conveyancing.
  • Have a high standard of legal services.
  • Receive your transaction dealt with using care, skill and diligence.
  • Enjoy the benefit of a high standard of service due to your lawyer’s arrangements, resources, procedures, skills and commitment.
  • Enjoy the benefit of a service which is accessible and responsive to your specific requirements.
  • Not feel discriminated against, victimised or harassed.
  • To receive the standard you could expect, however, if you do your lawyer accepts responsibility for this and provides you with any appropriate redress.
  • Have your specific needs taken into account should a complaint be made.
  • Receive a timeous, impartial and comprehensive service if if a complaint is made about your conveyancing in West Sussex.

Purchase in West Sussex is a complex business, both legally and administratively. The exact order of events varies slightly, below are some of the tasks in the process.

  • Property lawyer instructed by the buyer on acceptance of the offer
  • Examining the title to the premises
  • Carrying out West Sussex conveyancing searches with respect to the title
  • Assessing draft sale agreement and other documentation supplied by the owner’s lawyer
  • Submitting questions with the seller’s lawyer
  • Agreeing the wording of the sale agreement
  • Analysing replies prepared by the seller to pre-contract enquiries
  • Agreeing the wording for a Transfer Deed for completion
  • Guiding the buyer in respect of the loan offer: (if applicable)
  • Drafting and sending the purchaser a report on title (that is; reporting to the buyer on the contents of the contract pack, pre-contract enquiries and the result of the searches)
  • Carrying out the key stage of exchanging contracts and then completion formalities
  • Completion of and submitting to HMRC the appropriate stamp duty forms and payment
  • Registering the new ownership and the mortgage (where applicable) at the Land Registry.

Typically, West Sussex conveyancing for a sale has some of the following tasks

  • Lawyer instructed by the vendor once the offer has been accepted
  • Collating the documents evidencing the title to the property
  • Drawing up the contract and associated documents
  • Supplying draft papers to the property lawyer acting for the purchaser
  • Finalising the wording for contracts and replying to supplemental questions from the purchaser’s property lawyer
  • Agreeing the transfer deed
  • Replying to requisitions prepared by the purchaser’s property lawyer
  • Carrying out the key stage of exchanging contracts and then completion of the sale
  • Accepting the sale proceeds and wiring funds to the owner, the estate agent and other relevant parties (where applicable)

*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.