Property

Residential conveyancing solicitors in West Hampstead, London

Freehold and leasehold purchases and sales, for private purchasers and investors.

Overview

Residential conveyancing is the legal work involved in buying or selling a house or flat. We act on freehold and leasehold purchases and sales for private purchasers, investors and clients based overseas.

The partner you meet is the solicitor who handles your matter from start to finish — not a junior intermediary. NWL Solicitors is CQS Accredited.

Who we act for

We act for buyers and sellers of freehold and leasehold residential property.

Individuals buying or selling a house or flat to live in
Buyers and sellers of leasehold flats
Investors and portfolio landlords buying or selling residential property
Clients based overseas buying property

Matters we handle

Freehold purchases
Buying a freehold house or other freehold property. We investigate the title, order searches, raise enquiries and, after completion, apply to register your ownership at HM Land Registry.
Freehold sales
Selling a freehold property. We prepare the contract papers, answer the buyer's enquiries and repay any mortgage from the sale proceeds on completion.
Leasehold purchases
Buying a leasehold flat or house. As well as the title and searches, we review the lease and the information provided by the landlord or managing agent, such as service charges and ground rent.
Leasehold sales
Selling a leasehold property. We obtain the information the buyer will need from the landlord or managing agent and deal with any consents the lease requires.
Investment property
Buying and selling residential property as an investment, including for portfolio landlords. Portfolio acquisitions and disposals are covered on our Property page.
Buyers based overseas
Buying property while living abroad. We act for clients in the UK and from overseas.

How a matter runs

Instruction
We confirm the scope of the work and our fees in a client care letter. We also carry out identity and anti-money laundering checks, including on the source of the funds for a purchase.
Contract papers
On a sale, we send the draft contract, title documents and the property information forms you complete to the buyer's solicitor. For a leasehold property, we also request information from the landlord or managing agent.
Searches and enquiries
On a purchase, we review the contract papers, order searches (usually local authority, water and drainage) and raise enquiries with the seller's solicitor.
Report and signing
Before you commit, we report to you on the title, searches and replies to enquiries. You then sign the contract and the documents needed for completion.
Exchange of contracts
When both sides are ready and a completion date is agreed, contracts are exchanged and become legally binding. The buyer usually pays a deposit at this point.
Completion
On the completion date, the balance of the purchase price is transferred to the seller's solicitor and the keys are released, usually through the estate agent. On a sale, we repay any mortgage from the proceeds and send you the balance after any other payments you have agreed.
After completion
On a purchase, we submit any Stamp Duty Land Tax return due, pay the tax from funds you provide and apply to register you as owner at HM Land Registry. For a leasehold property, we also give the landlord any notice the lease requires.

Fees

Our conveyancing fees are fixed and depend on the value and nature of the property. Our Pricing page sets out our fees for freehold and leasehold purchases and sales, with typical purchase disbursements. Those fees are exclusive of VAT at 20%, unless stated otherwise. Disbursements are charged in addition. Our fees may vary from the published amounts where circumstances are complex or require additional work. The exact cost of your matter will be confirmed in a client care letter before we begin work.

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