At Compare My Move, we can match you with up to 6 verified conveyancing solicitors in the City of London, saving you up to 70% on your conveyancing fees. Our dedicated team ensures every licensed conveyancer is put through our strict verification process. The team also makes sure they are regulated by either the SRA, CLC, LSS, CILEx or LSNI before joining us as a partner.
A conveyancer will arrange the legal aspects when it comes to buying a home, but they are also responsible for organising essential searches which review the property and surrounding land. These searches explore potential issues such as flood risks, levels of radon gas, ground stability and contaminated land concerns in and around your future home.
Bishopsgate Law
99 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 3XD
Bishops Gate Law have many years of combined experience as a team in property law. We specialise in helping you with the legal side of the purchase and sale of a house.
"I chose Bishopsgate for the conveyancing for purchase of a shared freehold flat on the basis of the competitive price and the good reviews. Jodie was the conveyancer and provided excellent service which lived up to the reviews. Jodie responding to all my emails within a few hours, once she even answered a question on a Sunday afternoon. The whole process went very smoothly apart from a slight delay on exchange day due to one of the other solicitors in the chain not responding in time. Overall I can definitely recommend Bishopsgate for conveyancing."
Spencer Lockwood Solicitors
Spencer Lockwood Solicitors , 16 Prescot Street, London, E1 8 AZ
Based in London, we are Spencer Lockwood Solicitors. A fully regulated licensed conveyancer, we have a wealth of knowledge in the industry.
Smith and Co Solicitors
Michael Smith & Co, Clarence House, Ipswich, IP4 2BN
Smith and Co Solicitors are a professional and friendly licensed conveyancer based in Ipswich. First established in 1990, we have over 25 years’ experience in the conveyancing industry.
Juno
Juno Property Lawyers Ltd, 43-51 New North Road, London, N1 6LU
Juno are a team of licensed conveyancers who will help you when you want to buy or sell a house.
"Easy to use online was keep well informed a very quick affordable solution."
Ross Coates Solicitors
Ross Coates Solicitors, Unit 5-7 Alpha Business Park, Ipswich, IP1 5LT
Ross Coates Solicitors have over 25 years providing our professional and trusted residential conveyancing service across Wales and England.
Alexander Grace Law
A G Law, 7 Kestrel Court, Burnley, BB11 5NA
Alexander Grace Law is an award-winning residential conveyancer, winning ESTAS Best Conveyancer in the North West and County in both 2018 and 2019.
"They were on top of matters. The team were always helpful and kept me informed on most issues. The only slight criticism is I found it hard sometimes to actually speak to someone on the phone which may well be a fault of mine as I am not good with online communication but we got through it."
Muve Conveyancers
Connect2law, 5 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2PR
Muve Conveyancers are proud to provide our expert conveyancing service across England and Wales.
"Very pleased with muve smooth from start to finished, kept me updated and have already recommend to friends :) Good prices too! Loved the timeline to show what's been done, where you are and what needs to be completed before the move. Very happy with them."
My Home Move Conveyancing
My Home Move Ltd, 5 Barton Close, Leicester, LE19 1SJ
At My Home Move Conveyancing, we understand that buying, selling and remortgaging a house can be a stressful process - that is why we provide professional conveyancing services to make the process clearer, easier and better for every client.
"When Annie took control of my case she was going exceptional.Thank you Annie for all your helpKind regardsKerry Taylor "
Brevis Conveyancing Solicitors
Brevis, Kings Court, Stevenage, SG1 2NG
Brevis Conveyancing Solicitors are a firm of client-based conveyancing solicitors offering help to home movers across the UK.
QC Law Ltd
5th Floor, 29 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3EG
QC Law Ltd specialises in multiple areas of law, including conveyancing and other forms of property law. We are based in Central London and our team of conveyancing solicitors have a combined experience of over 30 years.
Ackroyd Legal
16 Prescot Street, London, E1 8AZ
Based in London, Ackroyd Legal are proud to provide their conveyancing services across the whole of the UK. Born from one of the fastest-growing, city-based law firms in recent times, brings together the best of the best.
Eden Conveyancing
Eden Conveyancing, Unit 7.19, Paintworks, Bristol, BS4 3EA
Eden Conveyancing are proud to help with the legal side of selling and buying a house.
"Eden have completely changed my perspective on what a conveyancing company can provide.Having bought through more traditional conveyancers before I was ready for a lot of waiting, pestering, being on hold, messages not being passed on and general stress levels being quite high.But from our initial application, to our first meeting (which they were able to book in the next day at our request), through to completion way ahead of when we expected, we were treated to excellent customer service from Sam and the Eden experience.The portal is great and allows you to simply see everything that needs to happen and when it will happen, as well as what funds are moving around to what parties at what time really quickly.Sam was so friendly, knowledgeable and responsive. I would class myself as quite an annoying customer - always wanting to know that we're as moved along down the line as we can be - and this was met with assurances and professionalism at all times.Oh and they were great value too! But I would easily rank them the best conveyors I have ever used so would absolutely pay the premium if they came out at most expensive when comparing.Thanks Sam and the team! "
Le Gros Solicitors
Le Gros Solicitors, 22 Windsor Place, Cardiff, CF10 3BY
Le Gros Solicitors are Cardiff-based conveyancers serving clients across England and Wales in areas such as London, Manchester, and Liverpool. We were established in 2011 and our experienced staff offer services across the residential and commercial sectors.
Conveyancing Marketing Services Ltd
Saxham Lodge, Newmarket Road, Risby , IP28 6RD
Here at Conveyancing Marketing Services Ltd, we aim to provide a top-quality conveyancing service to our clients. We cover many areas of England and Wales, such as Eastern London, Leicester, Luton, Nottingham, and Peterborough.We manage a panel of qualified conveyancers that will offer you a fixed price that’s reasonable. Customer service is at the heart of our business, and we aim to provide an efficient and accurate service.Whether you’re looking to hire a conveyancer for sale, purchase or both, we are here to help. Our conveyancers ensure everything is kept on track and that your purchase or sale runs smoothly. We talk you through the entire process so you’re always aware of the next steps.
Waterstone Legal
Waterstone Solicitors, 171 Cannon Street Road, London, E1 2LX
Waterstone Legal is a London-based conveyancer who works in areas across London and surrounding areas including Bromley, Twickenham, and Southend-on-Sea. We are a London firm specialising in residential and commercial conveyancing including other areas of law. We provide conveyancing services at Fixed Fee No Sale No Fee No Hidden Fee.
Homeward Legal
National Accident Law, Bevan House, Kettering, NN15 6XR
Homeward Legal is a nationwide panel of conveyancing solicitors and property lawyers. We pride ourselves on our efficiency and work closely with all parties to ensure that your move goes smoothly with minimal delay.
Gateway 2 Conveyancing
Suite 1, 8th Floor, Eastgate House, Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0AB
Gateway 2 Conveyancing is a Cardiff-based conveyancer serving areas across the country including Newport, Crewe, Brighton, and Blackpool. We have a team of legal professionals who are highly experienced to exceed your expectations.
Exclusive Legal
Floor 2 St Georges House,, 56 Peter Street, Manchester, M2 3NQ
Exclusive Legal is a Manchester-based conveyancer serving areas nationwide across England and Wales. We offer a wide array of services including purchase, sale, sale-and-purchase, and remortgage. We aim to make the buying and selling process easier for you by covering all technical aspects of the transactions.
Right Legal Solicitors
Suite 5, Office 8, Thornbank, 38 Moorgate Road, Rotherham, S60 2AG
Right Legal Solicitors are residential conveyancing specialists serving customers across York, Leeds, Sheffield, Wakefield, Doncaster, Hull, Harrogate, Lincoln.
Bespoke Law Services
Bespoke Law Services, Burns House, Harlands Road, Haywards Heath, RH16 1PG
Bespoke Law Services is a professional conveyancing company based in West Sussex. We cover many areas of the UK, such as St Alban’s, Chester, Croydon, Hull, and Cardiff. We help to ensure your house-buying process goes smoothly, and we handle all the legal aspects and documentation surrounding this.With years of experience in the field, you can rest assured that we can complete your case with ease, and our conveyancers are on hand to assist you with any queries or concerns you may have. We have helped thousands of clients who are satisfied and happy with the services we have provided.
Compare My Move’s team have undertaken essential research to bring you the most important aspects of the conveyancing process in the City of London. We found that the cost for the Local Land Search is £15 and the CON29 £133.20. Radon gas and contaminated land are not major concerns in the area, and flooding risks are minor, but ground instability may be an issue.
Your conveyancer will be responsible for arranging the searches on the property you wish to buy as part of the conveyancing process. These will highlight any concerns with regard to the home and the land it sits on.
Conveyancing searches are one of the most crucial steps in buying a house. These are searches arranged by your conveyancing solicitor which will provide details of the property you are looking to buy and the surrounding area. These searches include reviewing information held by the local council, in this case, the City of London Corporation
A report will be compiled complete with information on past land use and any concerns regarding pollution and contamination of the land. These searches will also review the flood risks in the area, the level of radon gas in the home and any issues relating to ground stability.
The cost for these searches will depend on the location of the property you are looking to purchase. The local authority search is split into two parts - the Local Land Charges Search (LLC1) and the CON29 form. The cost of the Local Land Charges Search (LLC1) in the City of London is £15 and the CON29 form is £133.20 (inc VAT). Additional enquiries (Con290) cost £7.20 per question.
Local Land Charges Search (LLC1)
£15 inc VAT
The LLC1 search informs purchasers of restrictions or charges affecting the use of the property, such as tree preservation orders, enforcement notices, planning permissions and financial charges.
Form CON29
£133.20 inc VAT
The CON29 provides information on matters such as local plans, highways and assets of community value.
Optional enquiries (form CON290)
£7.20 inc VAT
These are additional enquiries to Con29 and are optional.
Data from the City of London Corporation website.
According to the local authority, the City of London Corporation, historically the district has not experienced significant flooding and there are relatively small areas of the City of London that are at risk of flooding.
Surface water flooding is one of the City's higher risks and as Lead Local Flood Authority, the City Corporation is responsible for managing it. There is also a 'residual risk' of flooding in the event of a breach in the Thames' defences.
The Thames Barrier and local flood defences protect the City, but changes will be needed to address risks from sea-level rise and other impacts of climate change. Furthermore, limited areas of the City are at risk from river flooding in the absence of any flood defences
Your chosen conveyancer will be responsible for arranging crucial searches that will indicate any flooding concerns in and around the area of the home you are looking to buy. It is important that you read your reports thoroughly and raise any concerns you may have, prior to completion on your City of London property.
Discovering serious ground instability or subsidence on your property can be catastrophic for homeowners. These issues can result in a building or home becoming unstable, causing the home to decrease dramatically in value and potentially making it unsafe to live in.
The City of London is a known hotspot for ground stability concerns, as the modern-day Greater London area is built on London Clay - a type of shrinkable clay which is susceptible to changes. This type of foundation can result in unstable ground and subsidence for properties, including residential homes.
Geobear, an organisation that provides solutions for ground instability or subsidence, state that increased weight and pressure on the ground from multiple large buildings in a condensed area also plays a part in subsidence and ground instability in London. A map created by Geobear identifying the UK subsidence hotspots shows a considerable amount of subsidence concerns in the City of London district, as is the case in much of the central London area.
It is vital that you are aware of any ground instability issues before you decided to purchase a property. The search report sent to you by your conveyancer will provide details of previous land use in the area of the City of London you are looking to buy. It will also highlight any risks of landslides, subsidence and any other concerns regarding the stability of the ground around the home.
High levels of Radon Gas in the area you live in can potentially cause a number of health issues. Radon gas is a colourless and odourless gas, formed by radioactive decay of small amounts of uranium that occurs naturally in rocks and soil. Cases of lung cancer in non-smokers have been linked to the gas, which is why it is essential that you are aware of the level of radon in an area before purchasing a home.
A heat map of Radon Gas affected areas from Public Health England shows that Radon Gas levels are low in the City of London and it is unlikely that this will be highlighted as an issue in your search reports.
That said, with the health risks in mind, it is still recommended that you read the details of your search reports, including the level of Radon Gas, to be sure it will not impact you in your new City of London home.
Land that contains any kind of pollution and substances which can be harmful to humans, natural water systems and/or the environment will be considered “contaminated land” in the UK. Industrial development and processes from the 19th and 20th centuries are linked to much of this contamination, in addition to any previous waste disposal activities in the area.
The City of London Corporation website reports that there are no records of current or former landfills within the City of London boundary. They further state that they are responsible for deciding what land qualifies as contaminated land in the district. Currently, no sites in the City of London have been classified as 'contaminated land' under Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
Nevertheless, it is important to be clear on the risks of contamination on the land where the property you are looking to buy resides. The environmental searches arranged by your conveyancing solicitor will usually include a search of records and maps held by the local authority, giving details of the previous land uses. This will ensure there are no concerns regarding contamination and pollution in and around your new home.