conveyancing and property advice

We’ve helped generations of families buy, sell, and re-mortgage their property. Now it’s time for our conveyancing and property solicitors to look after you.

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Our highly qualified and experienced conveyancing team has in-depth knowledge of the local area and property market.

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Conveyancing solicitors

Buying and selling houses is not just about paperwork, it’s about people and their futures.

Our diligent and highly qualified property team has a strong focus on looking after you and your interests while working efficiently on your behalf. Add to that our attention to detail and in-depth knowledge of the local area, and the likelihood of any unexpected hold-ups or unwelcome revelations is greatly diminished.

We are proud to have helped communities all over our region and beyond for more than 100 years. It is quite possible that we have dealt with property matters for your parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents!

Our conveyancing property advice team has an excellent reputation for its service and is also a member of the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), which provides a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices.

What we can do for you

  • Buying
  • Selling
  • Re-mortgage
  • Equity release
  • First-time buyers
  • Buying new build
  • Buy to let
  • Lease
  • Co-ownership
  • Rights of way
  • Voluntary registration
  • Claiming ownership
  • Planning
  • Armed forces deposit
  • Shared ownership

Buying your property

From high-value properties to studio flats, from portfolio holders to first-time buyers, you can be confident in entrusting one of life’s most significant financial commitments to us.

Our exceptional service is backed up by knowledge of the local property market and a genuine desire to protect your investment and your future. So, whether you are a seasoned buyer or on the first rung of the property ladder, we always have an eye on the bigger picture and on protecting you and your assets.

Our conveyancing and property solicitors are committed to simplifying the process of buying a property, and our local knowledge and timely communication eliminate avoidable delays and stress.

It starts with setting out a clear path to completing your purchase and then keeping you informed at every stage.

Get in touch See our experts
  1. Instructions

    Once you have appointed our property lawyers to act on your behalf, our conveyancing team will receive details of the seller, their solicitor, and the deal agreed upon from the estate agent (if they have used one). We will then explain the process and what you need to do, along with details of our fees and terms of business.

  2. Draft contract package

    The seller's solicitor will send us a draft contract package which includes relevant information regarding the property. We will consider all these documents and investigate the ‘title’ – a legal document with important information including the current owner, any restrictions and official boundaries. Then we will report back to you and raise any queries with the other solicitors. 

  3. Searches

    Once we have received the location plan of the property, we will submit the Local Authority Search (which provides vital information such as development plans for the area and for neighbouring properties) and any other searches that you have requested, such as flood risk for example.

  4. Mortgage and survey

    If you are obtaining a mortgage, we will need to see your mortgage offer before we can exchange contracts. Once this is received, we will arrange for you to sign the mortgage deed.

    The mortgage company will have organised a valuation to confirm you have offered a fair market price for the property. We advise you to commission a more detailed private survey at this point in the proceedings.

  5. Report on the title and deposit

    Once our conveyancing solicitors have received the replies to our searches, and enquiries regarding the property title, your mortgage offer and all outstanding documents, we will send you a full report on the title and arrange for you to sign the contract.

  6. Exchange of contracts

    Once a completion date has been agreed upon with all parties in the chain, contracts will be exchanged, and the transaction will become legally binding.

    At this point, it is usual to pay 10% of the purchase price if you do not have a related sale. However, in some circumstances, it can be reduced. If you do have a related sale, we can normally use your buyers’ deposit as your deposit for your onward purchase.

  7. Next stage

    We will draft a transfer deed (a legally binding document which transfers ownership of the property) and have this approved by the seller’s solicitors. A full completion statement is then prepared, at which point we will require our fees. We will also arrange for you to sign a form relating to Stamp Duty Land Tax.

  8. Completion

    Completion is the date that the property becomes legally yours, and you move. We will receive the monies from your related sale and from your mortgage company (unless you are a cash buyer) and will transfer this to the seller’s solicitors’ bank. Once they have received the funds, completion will take place, and they will arrange the release of the keys.

  9. Post completion

    Once the purchase has been completed, we will pay any Stamp Duty Land tax owed on your behalf. We will receive the documents from the seller’s solicitors and register your title to the property at HM Land Registry. We then send you the office copy entries for you to keep safe.

  10. How long will it take?

    Typically, buying a property takes between 10 and 12 weeks from the offer being accepted to completion and handing over the keys. We do everything in our power to keep things on track, but we are dependent on the efficiency of third parties.

  11. How much will it cost?

    With a fixed-fee service, the quote we give you is the price you pay. Please refer to our conveyancing calculator for an initial estimate.  

    Use our calculator

  12. Source of funds

    This part of buying a property can seem unusual, intrusive or complex, so here are some questions and answers!

    Download the guide

Selling your property

There are many reasons for selling a home, and at Wilkin Chapman, we are here for you – whether it’s a happy occasion or a consequence of life’s challenges.

We will efficiently carry out the vital conveyancing work needed to complete your sale, keeping you informed and supporting you along the way.

Our team does everything it can to ensure that no unnecessary stress is added to the process, so you can progress to the next stage of your life.

Get in touch See our experts
  1. Initial instructions

    If you have an estate agent, we will receive the information from them including the details of your buyer's solicitor, who we will notify. We will then explain the process and what you need to do along with details of our fees.

  2. Draft contract package

    Our conveyancing and property solicitors prepare a draft contract package to send to the buyer's solicitor, which includes evidence of your Title to the property (proof of ownership), a property information form, fixtures, fittings and contents form, planning and building regulations evidence and guarantees for work completed.

    When the buyer's solicitor has approved our draft contract, we arrange for you to sign it. They will then carry out searches against the property and raise any further queries. We discuss these with you and reply on your behalf. The buyer's mortgage offer will be sent to their solicitors, who will arrange for them to sign the mortgage deed and then the contract.

  3. Exchange of contracts

    Once all outstanding matters have been dealt with, a completion date is agreed upon, contracts are exchanged, and the transaction becomes legally binding. After this, the buyer's solicitors prepare the final Transfer Deed which we will approve on your behalf and arrange for you to sign. The buyer's solicitors carry out their final searches and apply for the funds to complete the transaction from their mortgage company and buyers.

  4. Completion

    This is when the buyer becomes the legal owner of the property, and you hand over the keys. 

    The buyer's solicitors will send the monies to us through the bank system directly from their bank. Once we have received this, we will pay off your mortgage, pay the estate agent fees (if you used one) and deduct our own fees. 

    Our conveyancing solicitors submit the signed Transfer Deed and any other Title deeds to the buyer's solicitors so that they can register the buyer's Title to the property at HM Land Registry.

  5. How long does it take to sell a property?

    An average transaction takes in the region of 8-10 weeks, but some can be shorter or longer. We are very much dependent on third parties and factors such as unregistered land, leasehold titles, mortgage difficulties, problems with the title and also the length of the chain of transactions.

    Please do not book removals or commit yourself to any expense in connection with moving house without discussing it with us first.

  6. How much will it cost?

    With a fixed-fee service, the quote we give you is the price you pay. Please refer to our conveyancing calculator for an initial estimate.  

    Use our calculator

Re-mortgaging your property

If you need to fund an exciting remodel or some long overdue improvements, re-mortgaging your property could be the most cost-effective way to achieve it. Or you may simply want to save money by switching lenders.

Our hard-working conveyancing team have extensive experience working with banks and mortgage lenders and will work to secure your new funding with the minimum of hassle or delays.

Get in touch See our experts
  1. Questionnaire

    Our conveyancing solicitors will send you a questionnaire and paperwork to complete, which includes requiring you to provide information about your current building's insurance.

  2. Contacting your current lender

    We will contact your current mortgage lender to get an initial statement, which tells us how much it would cost to pay off the mortgage. 

  3. Mortgage offer

    Your new lender will send us a mortgage offer, which we will review before sending the mortgage deed for you to sign. 

  4. Checking the title deeds

    Our conveyancing solicitors check the Title Deeds – the legal documents that show the rights of ownership to your property. We are legally obliged to inform your mortgage lender if we find an issue.

  5. Agree a completion date

    We will agree on the date with you to complete the re-mortgage. We then let your new lender know and request the funds to be sent on the date of completion. 

  6. Completion

    On the day of completion, we receive the money from your new lender and ensure that your current mortgage is repaid. 

  7. Registering your new lender

    Our solicitors check that your old lender has been removed from your Title Deed and that your new one is added. 

  8. How long does a re-mortgage take?

    It takes four weeks on average, but some transactions can be quicker, and some can be considerably longer. 

    The length of time is takes is very much dependent on the speed of communication with your existing and new lender, along with other factors, such as leasehold titles and unregistered land.

  9. How much will it cost?

    Typically, our fees will be in the region of £524.00 inclusive of VAT. In addition, there will be a bank transfer fee of £25.00 plus VAT. We will be happy to provide you with a fixed fee quote when you contact us.

Conveyancing calculator

This calculator sets out an estimate of what you will pay which varies depending on the sale, purchase and re-mortgage price.

As the value and type of each property differ as does the service you require, the calculator provides an estimate only. We would be happy to discuss your specific requirements and give you an appropriate fixed fee quote.

  1. Sale

    Should you be selling a property with a value in excess of £1m, please contact Claire Parker-Robson, Caroline Fletcher-Shaw or Jo Sworder for a bespoke quotation and an explanation of our fees.

    Because of the varied nature of property work, our standard scale fees do not apply in a number of circumstances. Examples of such circumstances would include the following:

    • Selling a property which is owned under a shared ownership scheme.

    • Selling a parcel of land, such as part of your garden.

    • Selling a property/properties that you have built within the boundary of your residential property.

    If any of the above circumstances apply, please contact us for an estimate of our fees.

    What work is covered?

    • Dealing with the sale of your property including obtaining deeds, drafting the contract, and providing the buyer’s solicitors with evidence of your title.

    • Obtaining the management pack(s) for leasehold properties only.

    • Dealing with any queries raised by the buyer’s solicitors.

    • Completing the sale of your property, paying off any mortgage, paying the estate agents and transferring any proceeds to you.

    What work is not covered?

    • Settling any tax liability other than Stamp Duty Land Tax.

    • Dealing with issues relating to the physical structure and condition of the property.

    • Accountancy advice.

    • Valuation advice.

    • Any other matter outside the scope of the work detailed above.

    Factors that would typically change the cost of the service

    • If the information needed for sale is withheld.

    • If the transaction becomes unduly protracted or complicated.

  2. Purchase

    If you are buying a property with a value in excess of £1m, please contact either Claire Parker-Robson, Caroline Fletcher-Shaw or Jo Sworder for a bespoke quotation and an explanation of our fees.

    Please note our scale fees as set out below do not apply in the following circumstances:

    • Purchasing a new build.

    • Purchasing a property under a shared ownership scheme.

    • Purchasing with the help of an equity loan, through a help-to-buy scheme or with the assistance of a help-to-buy ISA.

    • Purchasing buyer company with a mortgage.

    Additionally, it is this firm’s policy to check the identity of the seller’s solicitor should they not be known to us, We use Lawyer Checker and this will be an additional cost of £12 (inclusive of VAT). This will help to protect both yourself and your lender against the risk of a criminal stealing the identity of a legitimate legal firm. Lawyer Checker enables us to assess the risk of transferring the purchase funds to the seller’s solicitor’s firm by comparing the bank account details they supply us with against a database of previous conveyancing transactions.

    What work is covered?

    • Checking the legal Title to the property and reporting to you

    • Carrying out appropriate searches and reporting the findings to you

    • Obtaining the property information and fixtures and fittings forms from the seller, checking that these are satisfactory and reporting to you

    • Drafting the Transfer Deed, which is the document that legally transfers the property to you

    • Exchanging contracts with the seller’s solicitor and proceeding to complete the purchase, including dealing with requesting mortgage funds from your lender

    • Registering your title to the property at HM Land Registry following completion, together with any mortgage you have obtained, and dealing with any Stamp Duty Land Tax requirements

    What work is not covered?

    • Settling any tax liability other than Stamp Duty Land Tax

    • Dealing with issues relating to the physical structure and condition of the property

    • Accountancy advice

    • Valuation advice

    • Any other matter outside the scope of the work detailed above

    Factors that would typically change the cost of the service

    • If the information needed for sale is withheld

    • If the transaction becomes unduly protracted or complicated

  3. Re-mortgage

    A re-mortgage is the process of paying off one mortgage with the proceeds from a new mortgage using the same property as security. In effect, it is simply the transfer of a mortgage from one lender to another. You may choose to re-mortgage your property for various reasons, but the most common is to reduce the overall monthly payments.

    Fees

    Typically, our fees will be in the region of £524.00 inclusive of VAT. In addition, there will be a bank transfer fee of £25.00 plus VAT.

    We will be happy to provide you with a fixed fee quote when you contact us.

    Disbursements

    Disbursements are payable in addition to our fees. These are payments to third parties, such as payments to the Land Registry for an official copy of the title to your property. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

    The anticipated disbursements are set out below.

    • Official copy of the register - £6

    • Land Registry registration fee – determined by the value of the property but starts at £20

    • Local search fees - if your property is located within North East Lincolnshire, East, or West Lindsey or the Hull boundary this will be £70. Otherwise, it is £95

    What work is covered?

    • Corresponding with your existing lender to obtain details of the amount required to pay off that mortgage

    • Investigating the legal Title and associated legal issues to enable us to advise your new lender that your property will offer adequate legal security

    • Obtaining your signature on the mortgage deed and obtaining the funds from your new lender

    • Redeeming your previous mortgage

    • Registering your new mortgage at HM Land Registry

    What work is not covered?

    • Any tax liability

    • Accountancy and/or financial advice

    • Valuation advice

    • Any other matter outside the scope of the work detailed above

    Factors that would typically change the cost of the service

    • If the information needed for the re-mortgage is withheld

    • If the transaction becomes unduly protracted or complicated

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Equity release

Equity release schemes have grown in popularity in recent years as the over 55's look to use their homes to unlock the money that has built up in their home by decades of property price increases.

As homeowners over the age of 55 go through this process, the role of a knowledgeable solicitor is essential and recommended by the Equity Release Council which promotes safe equity release. As a member of the Equity Release Council, we have specialist solicitors within our property team at each of our four offices who offer personal legal advice to anyone considering a scheme.

Within the Council's 'Statement of Principles,' an essential aspect of the equity release process is for homeowners to seek independent legal advice.

This ensures:

  • Professional and friendly support with a face-to-face meeting that ensures a homeowner understands the long-term nature of an equity release contract

  • The homeowner proceeds with full knowledge of the rewards and risks, as well as the legal obligations of the plan

Our conveyancing and property solicitors understand the law, but just as importantly, they also understand the personal decisions that homeowners are making and the need to discuss such long-term financial matters with empathy - taking time to ensure clarity and certainty, with all options considered.

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Submit an enquiry and one of our team of experts will be in touch as soon as possible to discuss your needs.

Or call the conveyancing team on 01507 527521

Partner & Head of Domestic Property Claire Parker-Robson 01507 430629 Louth
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