Best Conveyancing Solicitors in Northampton

How do I choose a good conveyancing solicitor in Northampton?

When you compare conveyancing quotes, look for a property solicitor with strong credentials, positive client feedback, and experience within the Northampton property market. Northampton has a mix of historic properties, suburban developments, and new-build estates, so it’s beneficial to work with someone familiar with the local housing trends and common issues that arise in this region. Local insight can be especially useful in areas like Abington, Duston, or Kingsthorpe, where certain title or planning concerns may be more prevalent.

Transparency regarding their conveyancing fees and the services included is crucial, this ensures you won’t encounter unexpected costs later on.

Make sure the conveyancers you are considering are fully accredited, either by the CLC or SRA. Accreditation guarantees that the firm meets the necessary professional standards.

You can contact them through their website, phone, or visit their office in Northampton. Many will offer an initial consultation to discuss your conveyancing needs.

It’s also helpful to select a conveyancing solicitor who is already on the panel of approved firms set by your chosen mortgage lender, as this will help things go quicker. You can check your lender’s website or ask them directly to find out if your conveyancer is on their panel.

While it’s not essential to use a solicitor based in Northampton, as many aspects of conveyancing can be handled remotely, working with a local firm may provide added value. A Northampton-based solicitor can offer specific knowledge of local authority searches, regional planning regulations, and potential issues relevant to the town and its surrounding villages (e.g. Chancel repair liability in historic village areas with ancient parish churches).

You should engage a conveyancer as you start looking for a property or before you list one for sale, to ensure all legal aspects are promptly addressed.

How do Northampton property solicitors work?

It is a conveyancer’s job to act on your behalf, managing the legal aspects of property transactions and administrative work associated with transferring the ownership of a property from one person to another. In Northampton, this includes handling transactions for a wide range of property types, from period townhouses in Abington to new developments around Upton and Wootton. Their tasks will differ depending on whether you are buying, selling, or doing both.

Your conveyancing solicitor will conduct conveyancing searches (such as local authority, drainage, and environmental searches), handle contracts, and advise on property laws specific to Northampton and the wider Northamptonshire area. Their local knowledge is especially valuable when dealing with conservation areas or developments with complex planning histories.

According to reallymoving data, the average cost of conveyancing fees is around £2,368, including fees and disbursements. For a First Time Buyer, the average cost is £1,478. Keep in mind that prices may vary based on the complexity of the transaction and the value of the property, particularly in popular areas like Northampton town centre, East Hunsbury, or Weston Favell.

Your money is protected when you use a conveyancer. Conveyancing solicitors must hold client funds in separate accounts, ensuring security and compliance with regulatory standards.

It is possible to do your own conveyancing, if you are a cash buyer, however it is advisable to always use a conveyancing solicitor as they will have the knowledge and expertise necessary to complete a property transaction. Hiring a conveyancer minimises the risk that something will go wrong, and your purchase will not go through.

What questions should I ask my conveyancer?

Start by enquiring about their experience in the Northampton property market. Even if they’re not physically based in Northampton, a conveyancer should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the area's common legal considerations. This could include knowledge of conservation areas in the town centre, shared access issues in terraced housing, or planning restrictions in expanding suburbs like Duston or East Hunsbury.

Ask them about how much their fees will be and what they include, such as disbursements, expenses and Stamp Duty. When buying in Northampton, local authority search fees may vary slightly depending on whether you're buying in the city or in surrounding villages and towns such as Towcester, Daventry, and Brackley which also fall under West Northamptonshire Council.

Ask about the timeline for how long the conveyancing process will take, and how they plan to communicate updates to you. Typically, conveyancing takes 8-12 weeks, and your conveyancer will need your input to fill out forms and provide documents throughout the process. They should be available to contact whenever you need to ask questions or request updates. Given how quickly properties in some Northampton neighbourhoods sell, such as Abington or Weston Favell, clarity on timelines is crucial.

You may want to see if they offer no sale, no fee agreements. This means you will not have to pay the conveyancing fees if the purchase falls through, however, be sure to confirm whether disbursement costs would still apply in such cases.

Make sure they are part of a regulated professional body and are approved on your chosen mortgage lender’s conveyancing panel. All conveyancers/ conveyancing solicitors on reallymoving are regulated by the SRA or CLC.

Is it better to use a solicitor or conveyancer in Northampton?

You can use both conveyancing solicitors and conveyancers to carry out your conveyancing in Northampton. There are differences between the two, but both will perform your property sale or purchase in the same way, so who you decide to use is up to you.

Conveyancing solicitors will have been trained in a variety of legal fields, ranging from family law through to litigation or criminal law. They have then chosen to specialise in property law. This could be helpful if your move involves other legal matters, such as wills, inheritance, or marital arrangements, which sometimes come up during property transactions.

Licensed Conveyancers are specialists who have specifically been trained in property law and their sole focus is the specific processes involved in local sales and purchases across Northamptonshire.

Conveyancing solicitors practising in the Northampton market must be registered with the Law Society and are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), whereas Licensed Conveyancers are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).

Both regulatory bodies will have a public register where you can search for an individual or a firm to check if they are regulated. All property solicitors and conveyancers quoted by reallymoving are regulated by one of these bodies. 

Your decision about whether to use a solicitor or conveyancer may come down to whether you prefer to have someone with expertise in other legal fields you may need help with, or someone trained specifically in property law. Ultimately, make your decision based on the firm or individual who can best support your move to or within Northampton, offering clear communication, transparent fees, and relevant experience in the local housing market.