Areas we serve

Conveyancing in Greater London

Q: How fast-moving is the London property market?

London's property market moves very quickly, particularly for well-priced properties in good locations. Properties can receive multiple offers within days or even hours of being marketed, and buyers are often required to make decisions rapidly. Sellers may set short deadlines for best and final offers. In this environment, having your conveyancing arrangements in place and being ready to act quickly can make the difference between securing and losing your chosen property. We start work immediately on instruction, prepare documentation proactively and respond rapidly to enquiries to keep your transaction moving at London pace.

Q: Are short leases common in London?

Yes, short leases are a significant issue in London's property market, particularly in older converted buildings and estates developed in the mid-20th century. Leases with less than 80 years remaining can affect mortgage availability and require immediate attention. When the lease falls below 80 years, lease extension costs increase significantly due to marriage value calculations. We will assess any lease length issues early in the transaction and advise you on the implications for mortgage lending, future saleability and potential extension costs. Many London leases require proactive management to maintain their value.

Q: What about buying in London's regeneration areas?

London has numerous ongoing regeneration projects, from established areas like Kings Cross and Canary Wharf to emerging locations like Old Kent Road, Nine Elms and the Royal Docks. Buying in regeneration areas can offer good value and future growth potential, but involves considerations including construction noise, future development plans and infrastructure delivery timescales. We will review planning conditions, check for any compulsory purchase risks and ensure you understand the development timeline. Our team helps you assess both the opportunities and potential challenges of regeneration area purchases.

Q: Do you handle Help to Buy redemptions in London?

Yes, we handle Help to Buy redemptions across London. Many London buyers used Help to Buy schemes to get onto the property ladder, and redemption is required when selling, remortgaging or staircasing. The process involves valuation, calculation of the government's share, and redemption of the equity loan. We work with approved valuers, liaise with Help to Buy agents and handle all legal aspects of the redemption process. Our team ensures the redemption is completed efficiently alongside your main transaction, whether you're selling, remortgaging or moving home.

Q: Are service charges high in London?

Service charges in London vary significantly but can be substantial, particularly in developments with extensive amenities, older buildings requiring ongoing maintenance, or properties with expensive management arrangements. Luxury developments may have service charges exceeding £5 per square foot annually. We will review service charge accounts carefully, check for any major works planned or recently completed, and ensure you understand the full cost of ownership including ground rent, insurance and any reserve fund contributions. Understanding service charges is crucial for budgeting and mortgage affordability in London.

Whether you’re buying your first home in Wandsworth, selling a family house in Richmond or remortgaging a property in Canary Wharf, Fletcher Longstaff provides fast, fixed-fee conveyancing across Greater London. From Victorian conversions in Clapham to penthouse apartments in the City and period houses in Hampstead, we handle every type of residential transaction. Our fully digital process means everything is managed remotely, with no office visits required. Every client is assigned a dedicated case handler, so you always know who to contact and where your case stands.

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Buying a property in Greater London

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Greater London's property market is diverse and fast-moving, spanning everything from studio flats in Zone 1 to family houses in outer London boroughs, from converted warehouse apartments in Shoreditch to Georgian terraces in Islington, and from riverside developments in Canary Wharf to suburban homes in Kingston upon Thames. Our conveyancing team manages the legal process from offer to completion entirely online. We carry out all necessary searches through the relevant London borough councils and Transport for London where applicable. We check the title, raise enquiries and ensure your mortgage lender's requirements are met. Some areas may require additional searches for contaminated land or former industrial use. Track every step through our online portal and app. If you are buying for the first time, we will guide you through the conveyancing process in plain English.

Selling a property in Greater London

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When selling a property in Greater London, speed and preparation make all the difference. In London's competitive market, legal delays can cost you a sale and potential buyers may look elsewhere quickly. We prepare your contract pack and title documentation as soon as you instruct us, ensuring we are ready to exchange the moment a buyer is found. Our team deals with buyer enquiries promptly and works proactively with the buyer's conveyancer to maintain momentum. Whether you are selling a mews house in Kensington, a conversion flat in Hackney or a new-build apartment in Nine Elms, we handle everything from instruction through to completion and ensure your funds are transferred on the day.

Leasehold conveyancing in Greater London

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Leasehold is the predominant tenure for flats and apartments across Greater London, from mansion blocks in Marylebone to converted Victorian houses in Battersea and modern developments throughout the capital. Most residential properties above ground floor level operate under leasehold arrangements. Where leasehold applies, we carry out a full lease review, check service charge accounts, obtain a management pack from the freeholder or managing agent, and confirm that the remaining lease term meets your mortgage lender's requirements. Common London leasehold issues include short leases requiring extension, high service charges, restrictive covenants affecting subletting, and complex management arrangements in converted buildings.

New build conveyancing in Greater London

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Greater London has extensive new-build activity, including major regeneration projects at Nine Elms, Kings Cross, Royal Docks, Greenwich Peninsula, Elephant and Castle, and numerous smaller developments across all boroughs. London's development boom continues with schemes from luxury towers in central locations to affordable housing in outer boroughs. New-build conveyancing involves tighter deadlines and more complex legal packs than standard resale purchases. Developers typically require exchange within 28 days of reservation, and contracts often include estate management arrangements, restrictive covenants and planning conditions that need careful review. We are on the approved panel for all major mortgage lenders, including Halifax and Barclays, so there is no separate panel approval needed. See our full approved lender list.

How long does conveyancing take in Greater London?

Most conveyancing transactions in Greater London take between 8 and 12 weeks from instruction to completion, though this varies depending on the complexity of the transaction. The national average from offer acceptance to completion is 154 days (Rightmove House Price Index, May 2024). Local authority searches through London borough councils typically return within 5 to 15 working days, though some boroughs may be slower during busy periods. London’s competitive market can create pressure for faster transactions. Chains, mortgage offers and the responsiveness of other parties all affect the overall timeline. Our average completion time is faster than the national average because we start work immediately on instruction, chase proactively and use technology to remove unnecessary delays.

How much does conveyancing cost in Greater London?

We charge fixed legal fees for all conveyancing work in Greater London, with no hourly rates, no hidden charges and no surprises at completion. Our legal fee covers everything involved in your transaction: reviewing contracts, carrying out searches, dealing with your mortgage lender and handling the transfer of funds. On top of our legal fee, there are third-party disbursements that apply to every transaction, including local authority search fees, Land Registry fees and, if you are buying, Stamp Duty Land Tax. London property purchases often trigger higher SDLT rates due to property values. We provide a full, transparent breakdown at the quote stage so you can compare costs accurately. No completion, no legal fee. Get a quote today.

Why choose us for conveyancing in Greater London?

Fletcher Longstaff is a specialist residential conveyancing firm. It is all we do. Unlike general practice firms, every member of our team is focused entirely on property transactions. You will be assigned a dedicated case handler who manages your file from start to finish, so you are always dealing with someone who knows your case. There are no call centres and no passing between departments. We have over 1,000 five-star reviews on Trustpilot and are on the approved panel for all major UK mortgage lenders, meaning there is no need to instruct a separate firm. Our process is fully digital and remote. You never need to visit an office. Everything from ID verification to signing and exchanging contracts is handled online via our secure client portal and app. We cover 100% of postcodes in England and Wales, including all areas across Greater London.

Fixed fees, no hidden costs

Dedicated case handler

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

On all major UK lender panels

Fixed fees, no hidden costs

Dedicated case handler

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

On all major UK lender panels

Fixed fees, no hidden costs

Dedicated case handler

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

On all major UK lender panels

Fixed fees, no hidden costs

Dedicated case handler

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

On all major UK lender panels

Fixed fees, no hidden costs

Dedicated case handler

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

On all major UK lender panels

Fixed fees, no hidden costs

Dedicated case handler

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

On all major UK lender panels

Nearby areas we cover

We cover all areas across Greater London and the surrounding region.

Westminster

Camden

Islington

Hackney

Southwark

Wandsworth

Richmond upon Thames

Greenwich

Kensington and Chelsea

Hammersmith and Fulham

Tower Hamlets

Croydon

FAQs for transactions in Greater London

How fast-moving is the London property market?

Are short leases common in London?

What about buying in London's regeneration areas?

Do you handle Help to Buy redemptions in London?

Are service charges high in London?

Conveyancing that gets you moving faster

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