Residential Conveyancing, Made Clear
Buying, selling or remortgaging a property involves important legal checks, documents and deadlines. Aim Legal provides clear residential conveyancing support from instruction through to completion and the final legal formalities.
Straightforward legal support for your property transaction
Conveyancing is the legal work required to transfer ownership of a property or deal with changes to an existing property interest. Our role is to review the legal title and contract papers, explain the issues that matter, carry out the appropriate searches and enquiries, and guide your transaction towards exchange and completion.
Whether you are purchasing your first home, selling an existing property, remortgaging or dealing with a transfer of ownership, we aim to keep the process clear and keep you informed about what happens next.
Property services built around your needs
Our residential property services cover the key legal work involved in buying, selling, financing and transferring property.
What happens during conveyancing?
Every transaction is different, but a typical purchase or sale will move through a number of key legal stages.
Instruction, identity & funding checks
We confirm your instructions, complete the required identity and compliance checks, and establish how the transaction will be funded.
Contract papers & legal title
The contract documentation and title information are prepared or reviewed so the legal position of the property can be understood.
Searches & enquiries
Relevant property searches are ordered and enquiries are raised to clarify issues affecting the property, title or transaction.
Mortgage, report & signing
Where a mortgage is involved, the lender requirements are considered. We report to you on the key legal documents and arrange signing when the matter is ready.
Exchange of contracts
Once the parties are ready and a completion date has been agreed, contracts can be exchanged. At this point the transaction normally becomes legally binding.
Completion & post-completion
Funds are transferred on completion. Afterward, the remaining tax and Land Registry formalities are dealt with where applicable.
Draft contract and initial paperwork
For a sale, the seller’s conveyancer prepares the contract documentation and supporting title papers. For a purchase, the buyer’s conveyancer reviews these documents, checks the legal title and identifies issues that may need further investigation.
Property searches
Searches provide information that may not be obvious from viewing the property. Depending on the transaction and location, these can include local authority, drainage and water, environmental and other specialist searches.
Enquiries and legal checks
After reviewing the title, contract papers and search results, enquiries may be raised about matters such as boundaries, rights of way, alterations, planning issues, restrictions, lease terms or service charges.
Mortgage offer and lender requirements
If you are using a mortgage, the formal offer and lender requirements form an important part of the legal process. Your conveyancer will consider the lender’s conditions alongside the legal title and transaction documents.
Exchange of contracts
Exchange is the stage at which a typical sale or purchase becomes legally binding. The parties normally agree the completion date before contracts are exchanged.
Completion
On completion, the purchase funds are transferred through the solicitors. Once completion is confirmed, the buyer can usually collect the keys and take possession of the property.
Post-completion
For a purchase, further work may remain after the keys are released. This can include applicable tax formalities and registration of the new ownership and any lender charge at HM Land Registry.
How long does conveyancing take?
There is no single timescale that applies to every property transaction. Timing can be affected by the property chain, searches, mortgage arrangements, enquiries, leasehold information and how quickly the parties are ready to proceed. We will keep you informed as your matter progresses and explain any issues that may affect the timetable.
Clear advice at every stage
Property transactions can involve unfamiliar documents and important decisions. Our approach is focused on explaining the legal position clearly and progressing the work carefully.
Residential conveyancing questions
Answers to some of the questions clients commonly ask during a property transaction.
What is residential conveyancing?+
Residential conveyancing is the legal process involved in buying, selling, remortgaging or transferring residential property. It can include title checks, contract documentation, searches, enquiries, exchange, completion and post-completion registration.
When does a property transaction become legally binding?+
For a typical sale or purchase in England and Wales, the transaction normally becomes legally binding when contracts are exchanged. Your conveyancer will explain when the matter is ready for exchange and what this means for you.
What searches might be required when buying a property?+
The searches depend on the property and transaction. Common searches can include local authority, drainage and water and environmental searches, with additional searches considered where relevant to the location or property.
Do I need a conveyancer if I am remortgaging?+
A remortgage can still involve legal work, particularly where a lender requires a solicitor or conveyancer to check the title, deal with the existing charge and register the new lender’s security.
What happens after completion?+
On a purchase, there can be further legal work after completion, including applicable tax formalities and registration of the ownership change and any lender charge at HM Land Registry.
Ready to move your property transaction forward?
Speak to Aim Legal about your residential conveyancing requirements and the next steps for your transaction.
