Anthony Gold Solicitors provide residential conveyancing services for property purchases, sales, and remortgages across London and the UK. Our property department operates strictly on an independent advisory model, refusing estate agent referral fees to ensure our legal counsel remains entirely objective.
Residential conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership and attaching or discharging finance. Our team of transactional lawyers manages the purchase, sale, and remortgage of residential properties across London and the UK, acting for both private clients and lending institutions.
Our Residential Conveyancing Framework We operate a distinct model compared to volume conveyancing providers. Our operational parameters include:
Independent advice
We do not pay referral fees to estate agents (such as chain agencies). This ensures our legal counsel is entirely independent and solely in the client’s operational interest.
Transparent cost structures
Volume providers often operate on aggressive cost models reliant on client account interest and hidden administrative triggers (e.g., unexpected indemnity policy fees). Our initial quote represents the comprehensive cost of the standard legal work required.
Direct communication
Our partners and senior solicitors handle transactions directly. To prevent information siloes, our solicitors average over 170 daily communications, ensuring precise, daily updates on case progression.
Complex transaction capacity
We possess the technical infrastructure to manage non-standard scenarios, including international fund transfers (e.g., clients based in Hong Kong or Dubai), parental cash gifts, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), and local authority buybacks.
Areas we cover in residential conveyancing
Anthony Gold’s residential conveyancing department manages property transactions across London and the wider UK. Our primary operations are based in the Central London property market, managed through our London Bridge office, and the South London area, supported by our established presence in Streatham. We also regularly process transactions for clients moving to or from commuter belt regions and other UK locations, including Kent (such as Bromley, Sevenoaks, and Ashford) and Sussex (including Brighton).
In addition to domestic conveyancing, we have the compliance infrastructure to manage UK property purchases and sales for international clients and non-UK residents. Our team regularly processes instructions from overseas jurisdictions, including Europe, Hong Kong and Dubai, ensuring all cross-border financial and regulatory requirements are met.
Conveyancing and property transaction timeframes
The average timeframe for a standard conveyancing transaction at Anthony Gold is 8 to 12 weeks. However, completion metrics are subject to external variables, including:
Local authority property searches
The timeframe for completing mandatory conveyancing searches is entirely dependent on the specific local council. Turnaround times for Local Land Charges and standard enquiries vary significantly across London boroughs and the wider UK. Authorities operating automated systems, such as Bromley, can return search results in under 30 minutes.
Conversely, councils managing system outages, cyber incidents, or administrative backlogs, such as Camden, can require up to six weeks to process search applications. We initiate search orders immediately upon instruction to mitigate these external delays.
Property chain dependencies
The overall velocity of a residential conveyancing transaction is structurally linked to the size and complexity of the property chain. While chain-free transactions operate on condensed schedules, multi-property chains are strictly dictated by the slowest unit within that sequence. Administrative delays at any point in the chain, whether due to pending mortgage offers, unanswered legal enquiries, or delayed local searches will uniformly extend the completion timeline for all interconnected buyers and sellers.
Property tenure (leasehold vs freehold)
The legal classification of the property directly impacts the conveyancing timeline. Leasehold conveyancing structurally requires more processing time than freehold transactions. This is due to the legal necessity of acquiring comprehensive management packs (LPE1 forms), service charge accounts, and post-Grenfell fire safety compliance data from third-party freeholders or managing agents. Sourcing and verifying this third-party documentation routinely adds several weeks to the standard transaction schedule.
Conveyancing post-completion protocol
Upon completion, legal ownership transfers, and property access is granted. The final administrative step involves registration at HM Land Registry. Due to current processing backlogs, Land Registry updates can take between six months to two years to finalize. This delay does not affect your legal ownership or occupation of the property.
How can we help in making residential transactions?
Our conveyancing solicitors manage the legal administration and regulatory compliance for residential property transactions across the UK. We operate an independent advisory model, providing direct access to senior legal personnel.
Clients are assigned a dedicated senior solicitor who manages the transaction directly, maintaining a high volume of direct communication. Our technical capacity accommodates standard residential transfers alongside complex legal requirements, including international fund verification, high-value property transactions, and technical leasehold structures.
Buying & selling residential property
We manage the legal transfer of freehold and leasehold properties. The average transaction timeframe for our department is 8 to 12 weeks. Our operational model assigns transactions directly to senior solicitors, mitigating the communication delays frequently associated with volume conveyancing providers. We maintain the technical capacity to process standard residential transfers alongside complex cases, including international source-of-funds verification (frequently managing capital from jurisdictions such as Hong Kong and Dubai), non-UK resident transactions, and Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). We do not accept estate agent referral fees, ensuring our counsel remains structurally independent.
Lease extensions & freehold purchases
Leasehold property transactions mandate the navigation of complex regulatory frameworks, specifically regarding the Building Safety Act and post-Grenfell fire safety compliance. We execute the acquisition and review of mandatory management packs (LPE1 forms), analyse service charge accounts, and process required ‘Licences to Assign’ from institutional freeholders and managing agents. Our department also processes the legal requirements for lease extensions and collective enfranchisement (the joint purchase of a freehold by leaseholders).
Government schemes: Right to buy & shared ownership
We process the legal requirements for properties acquired through government-backed initiatives and local authority housing schemes. This encompasses executing Right to Buy applications for ex-local authority properties and managing the specific lease structures inherent in shared ownership purchases. Furthermore, our department executes the legal administration for local authority compulsory purchase buyback schemes, including current regeneration projects across South London.
Transfers of equity
A transfer of equity alters the legal ownership structure of an existing property. We execute the required HM Land Registry documentation and manage the compliance protocols for adding or removing individuals from a property title. This includes processing the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and source-of-funds verification required when integrating gifted deposits (such as parental capital contributions) or executing structural ownership changes following a separation or divorce.
Remortgaging & financing advice
We manage the legal administration required to refinance a residential property. Our solicitors are responsible for registering the new mortgage charge at HM Land Registry and discharging the existing financial liabilities. Under specific regulatory guidelines, our conveyancers are authorised to act simultaneously for both the borrower and the lending institution. We do not operate as mortgage brokers or accept referral fees from financial institutions, ensuring all legal advice regarding the property asset remains independent of the financial product.
Words from our clients
I would like to thank Anthony Gold and in particular Philip Cartin for the exceptional conveyancing service provided. I was kept informed throughout the negotiations and they were always at hand with an immediate response to any question or potential issue. The whole experience was very professional.
Conveyancing Client
We had an excellent experience at Anthony Gold who we engaged to carry out our conveyancing. Their delivery was on time and their attention to detail was impeccable. They demonstrated great diligence throughout the process and were incredibly helpful at every step. I highly recommend Stephen for his conveyancing service.
Conveyancing Client
After being let down by another conveyancing firm, I appointed Anthony Gold to handle the sale of my house. Nickiesha Carter dealt with the matter efficiently and professionally and was always prompt in answering queries. Selling your home is one of the most stressful things one can do in life but Nickiesha made the process as easy as possible.
How long does the conveyancing process take when buying or selling a property?
What is included in your residential conveyancing solicitor fees?
Do I need a solicitor for both buying and selling a property?
What’s the difference between freehold and leasehold property purchases?
What searches are conducted during the conveyancing process?
How long does the conveyancing process take when buying or selling a property?
The conveyancing process typically takes between 8 to 12 weeks from when an offer is accepted until completion. However, this can vary depending on several factors, such as the complexity of the transaction, the responsiveness of the parties involved, and whether there are any issues with the property title or searches. We work diligently to keep the process on track and ensure you’re kept informed every step of the way.
What is included in your residential conveyancing solicitor fees?
Our conveyancing fees are tailored based on the value of the property and the specifics of the transaction, such as whether the title is freehold or leasehold and if mortgage finance is involved. We provide a transparent fee structure, so you know exactly what to expect from the outset. Fees typically include legal advice, property searches, contract preparation, and liaising with other parties. Learn more about how we charge for our residential conveyancing services.
Do I need a solicitor for both buying and selling a property?
Yes, it’s highly recommended to use a solicitor for both buying and selling a property to ensure the legal aspects of each transaction are handled correctly. Buying and selling involve different legal processes, such as contract preparation, property searches, title checks, and negotiations. Having an experienced solicitor on your side for both transactions ensures that all legal requirements are met, protecting your interests and helping you navigate any complexities smoothly.
What’s the difference between freehold and leasehold property purchases?
When you purchase a freehold property, you own both the building and the land it sits on outright. In contrast, a leasehold property means you own the property for a set number of years but not the land it stands on, which remains owned by the freeholder. Leasehold purchases often involve additional considerations like ground rent and service charges. Our team can help you understand the implications of both types of ownership and guide you through the process, whether you’re buying a freehold or a leasehold property.
What searches are conducted during the conveyancing process?
During conveyancing, we carry out several essential searches to identify any potential issues with the property. These typically include local authority searches (to check for planning and building regulations issues), environmental searches (to assess flood risk or land contamination), and water and drainage searches (to confirm water access and sewer connections). Depending on the property’s location, additional searches may be recommended. Our thorough approach ensures you have a clear understanding of any risks before proceeding with the purchase.
How long does the conveyancing process take when buying or selling a property?
The conveyancing process typically takes between 8 to 12 weeks from when an offer is accepted until completion. However, this can vary depending on several factors, such as the complexity of the transaction, the responsiveness of the parties involved, and whether there are any issues with the property title or searches. We work diligently to keep the process on track and ensure you’re kept informed every step of the way.
What is included in your residential conveyancing solicitor fees?
Our conveyancing fees are tailored based on the value of the property and the specifics of the transaction, such as whether the title is freehold or leasehold and if mortgage finance is involved. We provide a transparent fee structure, so you know exactly what to expect from the outset. Fees typically include legal advice, property searches, contract preparation, and liaising with other parties. Learn more about how we charge for our residential conveyancing services.
Do I need a solicitor for both buying and selling a property?
Yes, it’s highly recommended to use a solicitor for both buying and selling a property to ensure the legal aspects of each transaction are handled correctly. Buying and selling involve different legal processes, such as contract preparation, property searches, title checks, and negotiations. Having an experienced solicitor on your side for both transactions ensures that all legal requirements are met, protecting your interests and helping you navigate any complexities smoothly.
What’s the difference between freehold and leasehold property purchases?
When you purchase a freehold property, you own both the building and the land it sits on outright. In contrast, a leasehold property means you own the property for a set number of years but not the land it stands on, which remains owned by the freeholder. Leasehold purchases often involve additional considerations like ground rent and service charges. Our team can help you understand the implications of both types of ownership and guide you through the process, whether you’re buying a freehold or a leasehold property.
What searches are conducted during the conveyancing process?
During conveyancing, we carry out several essential searches to identify any potential issues with the property. These typically include local authority searches (to check for planning and building regulations issues), environmental searches (to assess flood risk or land contamination), and water and drainage searches (to confirm water access and sewer connections). Depending on the property’s location, additional searches may be recommended. Our thorough approach ensures you have a clear understanding of any risks before proceeding with the purchase.