Solicitor For Selling a House

Selling a house is a major financial transaction, and having the right solicitor makes a difference at every stage. At JMW, our conveyancing solicitors provide clear, practical support to help you sell your property smoothly, securely and without unnecessary delays. Whether you are selling your home, an investment property or part of a portfolio, we’ll carry out the legal work efficiently and with care.

We work on your behalf to manage the legal process, from preparing contracts and reviewing property deeds to liaising with the buyer’s solicitor and your estate agent. JMW's residential conveyancing team is here to make the transaction as straightforward as possible, protecting your interests and helping you complete your sale with confidence.

Start Your Enquiry

If you’re ready to speak to a solicitor for selling your house, fill in the simple enquiry form below. A member of our conveyancing team will be in touch promptly to discuss your circumstances and explain how we can help with your property sale.

How JMW Can Help

Selling property involves a range of legal steps, contracts and paperwork. Having experienced solicitors on your side simplifies every stage of the conveyancing process, saving you time and stress. At JMW, our residential conveyancing team provides comprehensive legal support tailored specifically to your house sale. Whether you are selling your family home, a leasehold property or an investment, our dedicated solicitors will guide you smoothly through each step.

Our role includes preparing and reviewing draft contracts, verifying property deeds, and managing communications with your buyer’s solicitor, mortgage lender and estate agent. We carefully handle negotiations on your behalf, addressing any queries efficiently to ensure the transaction progresses without unnecessary delays or complications within the property chain.

JMW’s transparent approach means you will receive a clear breakdown of solicitor fees for selling your house upfront, including all expected costs such as Land Registry fees and disbursements. Our legal professionals clearly explain every aspect of the conveyancing process, enabling you to make informed decisions throughout.

Should any unexpected legal issues arise, such as those related to property boundaries, leasehold terms, ground rent, service charges or incomplete documentation, our solicitors proactively work to resolve them swiftly, protecting your interests and maintaining momentum towards completion.

From the initial instruction through to the transfer of ownership, our priority is to ensure your sale is completed efficiently, effectively and in full compliance with UK property law, giving you complete peace of mind from start to finish.

Meet Our Team

JMW’s team offers expert advice and support for individuals dealing with legal matters involving builders and developers, helping you resolve disputes and protect your property interests.

What Are the Legal Steps Involved in Selling a House?

When selling a house, knowing the main legal steps involved helps you understand the overall conveyancing process clearly. Below is a straightforward outline of what you can typically expect during your house sale:

• Deciding to sell and valuation: Initially, you'll decide to sell your property and usually request valuations from one or more estate agents. Valuations help you determine the market value and decide on the right selling price.
• Preparing your property for sale: You’ll gather essential paperwork, including property deeds, Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), and details about fixtures, fittings and any warranties. For leasehold properties, you’ll also need documents outlining service charges, ground rent and management company information.
• Marketing your property: The estate agent advertises your property online and through other channels to attract buyers. Interested parties arrange viewings, and your agent handles initial enquiries and negotiations on price and conditions.
• Accepting an offer: Once you receive a suitable offer, you can accept it verbally, although it isn't legally binding at this point. You and the buyer will then exchange details of your respective solicitors or licensed conveyancers to move the sale forward legally.
• Contract drafting and enquiries: Your solicitor prepares draft contracts, including terms of the sale, and sends these to the buyer’s solicitor. The buyer’s solicitor reviews the documentation and raises any queries relating to the property, its ownership or related legal issues.
• Surveys and searches: While the buyer arranges a survey to verify the property's condition and valuation, they will also carry out property searches to uncover any local planning issues, environmental factors or potential concerns affecting the property. Although typically a buyer’s responsibility, your timely responses help keep the process smooth.
• Mortgage and finance arrangements: The buyer secures their mortgage approval, and your solicitor obtains a redemption statement from your mortgage lender to confirm the exact amount required to pay off your mortgage on completion.
• Exchanging contracts: Once both parties agree terms and are satisfied with all documentation and survey results, contracts are exchanged. At this stage, the agreement is legally binding, and you and the buyer confirm the completion date.
• Completion day: On the agreed date, the buyer’s solicitor transfers the full purchase price to your solicitor. Upon confirmation of funds, ownership of the property officially transfers to the buyer, and you hand over the keys, typically via your estate agent.
• Post-completion steps: Your solicitor settles any outstanding mortgage, pays the estate agent’s fees and provides you with the remaining proceeds from the sale. They finalise administrative tasks, including notifying the Land Registry of the change in ownership.

Being familiar with these practical steps enables you to manage expectations clearly and ensures your property sale moves efficiently from initial valuation to successful completion.

Do You Need a Solicitor When Selling a House?

When selling property in the UK, instructing a solicitor or licensed conveyancer is required to complete the legal transfer of ownership. Your solicitor undertakes important tasks throughout the conveyancing process to safeguard your interests and make your house sale straightforward.

A solicitor’s role when selling a house typically includes:

• Drafting and reviewing contracts: Preparing the initial draft contracts and clearly outlining terms for the buyer’s solicitor.
• Checking property deeds: Verifying ownership details, identifying rights and restrictions affecting your property and ensuring all documentation is accurate.
• Handling buyer enquiries: Responding comprehensively and clearly to questions raised by the buyer’s solicitor, helping maintain momentum and avoid delays.
• Managing communications: Liaising efficiently with the buyer’s solicitor, estate agent and your mortgage lender to coordinate each stage of the sale.
• Negotiating terms: Addressing any legal issues raised by the buyer, such as boundary disputes, restrictive covenants or leasehold conditions, to protect your interests.
• Redeeming your mortgage: Obtaining redemption statements from your mortgage lender to ensure your mortgage is repaid in full at completion.
• Exchange and completion: Managing the exchange of contracts and the transfer of funds on completion day, officially transferring ownership to the buyer.
• Post-completion administration: Settling outstanding costs such as mortgage repayments and estate agent fees, distributing sale proceeds to you, and updating ownership records at the Land Registry.

Having a solicitor handle these tasks ensures your house sale is legally compliant, efficiently managed and protects your financial and legal interests at every stage.

What Are the Solicitor Fees for Selling a House?

Solicitor fees for selling a house cover all the essential legal work carried out on your behalf throughout the conveyancing process. These fees can vary based on factors such as the complexity of your transaction, the type and price of your property and your chosen solicitor or conveyancer.

Typically, solicitor fees for selling property include:

• Legal fees: Covering the solicitor’s professional time spent preparing and reviewing contracts, verifying property deeds, handling communication with the buyer’s solicitor, estate agents and mortgage lenders, and completing all administrative and legal tasks from initial instruction to completion.
• Bank transfer fees: Charges for securely transferring funds to redeem your mortgage, settle estate agent fees and manage payments at completion.
• Land Registry fees: While typically paid by the buyer, in some instances sellers incur charges for obtaining official documents and copies of title deeds from the Land Registry.
• Disbursements: Costs related to third-party services or documents your solicitor must obtain, such as obtaining copies of planning permissions, leasehold information packs or management company reports, particularly relevant if you're selling a leasehold property.

When you instruct JMW’s residential conveyancing team, we provide you with a transparent and comprehensive breakdown of solicitor fees upfront. This ensures you're aware of all anticipated costs, avoiding surprises and giving you confidence to proceed with your house sale knowing exactly what to expect.