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Conveyancing Solicitors in Bristol
If you are carrying out any sort of property transaction in Bristol, our expert conveyancing solicitors in Bristol can work alongside you to provide carefully tailored advice that meets your individual needs.
Buying, selling or remortgaging your home is exciting but, without the right advice, this can come with plenty of potential risks. Our conveyancing team have a broad range of expertise and will be able to guide you through your case from start to finish.
At Bird & Co, we offer a convenient and reliable conveyancing service that’s easily accessible to everyone. No matter what your circumstances are, our team will be able to guide you through the conveyancing process and answer any potential queries you might have.
Our conveyancing solicitors in Bristol offer a fast and efficient online conveyancing service which allows us to reach a wide pool of clients across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, including Filton, Clifton, Portishead and Kingswood.
To get in touch with a member of our conveyancing team in Bristol, give us a call or you can get an online conveyancing quote.
Why choose Bird & Co for your conveyancing in Bristol?
- Specialist online conveyancing service – Giving convenient access to our service for clients anywhere in the UK or worldwide.
- Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation by the Law Society – Providing assurance that we offer a high-quality service.
- A modern, simple and efficient service – Reducing stress and making your conveyancing experience smoother and faster.
- Secure online systems – Protecting you and your funds at all times.
- Direct access to the solicitor handling your case – Meaning you can get the answers you need, when you need them from someone who knows you and your transaction.
- Competitive fees with a clear quote upfront – See how much your conveyancing might cost by getting a no-obligation quote online.
Wondering whether online conveyancing is the right choice for you? Learn more about the benefits of working with our online conveyancers instead of a local conveyancer in Bristol.
How our conveyancing solicitors in Bristol can help you
Our team of conveyancing solicitors in Bristol have expertise in all manner of conveyancing matters, including:
- Buying and selling your home
- Advice for first time buyers, such as:
- Remortgaging
- Equity release
- Advice about buying as joint tenants or tenants in common
- Buying and selling listed property
- Buying and selling leasehold property
- Collective enfranchisement and buying the freehold of a house
- Lease extension
- Transfer of equity
- Gifting property and Deeds of Gift
- Buy to let conveyancing
- Buying and selling land
- Commercial conveyancing
- Stamp Duty advice
Benefits of working with our online conveyancers instead of a local conveyancer in Bristol
- National expertise with many years of experience handling a wide range of transactions – We therefore have much broader experience than the average property solicitor in Bristol, including for more complex transactions.
- Well-developed online systems for a smooth conveyancing experience – Drawing on years of experience offering online conveyancing, we have streamlined the whole process with thoroughly tested systems you can rely on.
- A fast, cost-effective service – By working more efficiently and keeping our overheads to a minimum, we can pass on the savings to our clients while still delivering a swift, reliable conveyancing service.
- Accessible expertise across the UK and worldwide – With our industry-leading online service, we can offer the very best conveyancing expertise for property in England and Wales to clients any time, anywhere.
Safe, secure conveyancing at all times – Using the latest security systems and processes, we keep you protected. We are also fully insured just in case anything should ever go wrong.
Our conveyancing fees – how much does our conveyancing cost in Bristol?
We provide a range of flexible fees for our conveyancing work in Bristol. For straightforward cases, we may be able to provide fixed fees, giving you a clear idea how much your conveyancing work will cost. If additional fees are required to complete your transaction, your conveyancer will clearly explain the reasons for this.
Any other costs that are associated with the conveyancing process are known as disbursements. Disbursements could include registering the property transaction with HM Land Registry or conveyancing searches.
Your property transaction may also be affected by tax, such as Stamp Duty Land Tax or Capital Gains Tax. If this is the case, your property solicitor in Bristol will help you to calculate how much is owed and file the return with HMRC.
Conveyancing FAQs
How does the conveyancing process work in Bristol?
There are three main stages to the conveyancing process. These are:
- Offer and acceptance
- Exchange of contracts
- Completion
When an offer is accepted on a home, the buyer and seller agree to enter into a contract. However, at this stage, nothing is legally binding and either party can opt to pull out of the transaction with no penalties.
The buyer will carry out various checks on the property, with the assistance of their conveyancer. The checks could include:
- Reviewing property information provided by the seller and making further enquiries if necessary (done by the conveyancing solicitor)
- Conducting conveyancing property searches, such as local authority checks (done by the conveyancing solicitor)
- Carrying out an independent survey (arranged by the buyer)
The buyer may also apply for a mortgage at this stage.
Once the property checks have been completed and the buyer is happy to move forward with the transaction, contracts are exchanged. The transaction will now be legally binding and neither party can pull out without facing a penalty.
Completion is where the transaction becomes official. At this stage a transfer deed will be submitted to HM Land Registry and the seller will need to leave the property.
How long does conveyancing take in Bristol?
Every conveyancing transaction comes with its own set of challenges, which means the time it takes to reach completion can vary. However, under normal circumstances, you can expect a conveyancing transaction to take 12-14 weeks to be completed – from the date the offer is accepted and conveyancing solicitors are instructed.
The ever-changing nature of conveyancing work means that delays can sometimes happen. If this is the case for your transaction, our Bristol conveyancing solicitors will keep you informed and advise you on what your options are.
What searches are involved in conveyancing in Bristol?
If you are buying a home, your conveyancer will carry out a number of checks to make sure there are no immediate issues with the property that need to be addressed.
The three main types of conveyancing searches are:
- Local authority checks – to check the surrounding area for planning, pollution, highway or other related issues
- Environmental searches – to check for issues such as flooding or land contamination
- Water and drainage searches – to check matters such as water and drainage access
Further checks might be needed, depending on the type of property in question and where it is situated. If this is the case, your conveyancer will let you know.
Is it better to use a conveyancing solicitor in Bristol or a conveyancer?
When dealing with a property transaction, you may see the terms ‘conveyancing solicitor’ and ‘conveyancer’ both being used. A conveyancing solicitor and a licensed conveyancer are both qualified property lawyers and either can be a good choice for dealing with a property transaction.
While both types of lawyers can handle your conveyancing in Bristol, working with a firm of solicitors can provide benefits. A solicitors’ firm will generally have wider expertise than just property, including subjects such as Wills and inheritance, property rights for unmarried couples and dispute resolution. Having access to this wider expertise can help to ensure all of the issues related to a transaction are properly considered and accounted for, making your life easier and giving peace of mind.
What issues should buyers consider when purchasing a home in Bristol?
While Bristol is a popular place to live offering many advantages to buyers, there are some key local issues to consider when buying in the city. These include:
Planning Restrictions: Many areas in Bristol fall within conservation zones, so it is important to be aware that you might be required to comply with strict guidelines for any external changes you wish to make to a property in one of these areas.
Parking: Many properties in Bristol do not come with off-road parking and Residents Parking Zones are in place across much of the city. You should therefore make sure to research whether this impacts the property you are interested in buying and, if so, what the cost associated with parking permits would be.
Flood Risk: Some areas of Bristol, particularly those near the River Avon, are at risk of flooding, so you should make sure this is investigated as part of your conveyancing checks. If the property is at risk of flooding, it is important to make sure you have appropriate insurance.
Mine Shafts: There is a history of mining activity in Bristol, with some properties being built over disused mine shafts. This can cause a risk of subsidence, so it is important that a mining report is carried out in those areas affected.
Air Quality: Bristol contains a number of areas that suffer from poor air quality due to factors such as high levels of traffic and industrial activity. You should check the air quality rating for the area you are planning to buy to ensure you are informed of any risks. It is worth noting that all of Bristol is covered by a smoke control order, so you cannot emit smoke from a chimney unless you are using an authorised fuel or an exempt appliance. The city has also recently introduced a Clean Air Zone covering a significant part of central Bristol, with charges for vehicles that do not meet acceptable admissions standards.
Public Transport: Bristol is served by a number of local train stations and bus routes, but some areas are better covered than others. If you are planning to rely on public transport, it is worth investigating the provision for the area you wish to live in before making a purchase.
What documents does a property solicitor in Bristol need for conveyancing?
Residential conveyancing in Bristol requires various documents, including to prove your identity, verify your funds and/or evidence key details about the property.
To buy a property in Bristol, you will need documents including:
- Identification (e.g. passport or driving licence)
- Proof of address
- Proof of funds (such as bank statements)
- The official offer of mortgage
When selling a property in Bristol, you will need documents including:
- Proof of ownership
- Seller’s Property Information Form
- Certificates, guarantees and planning permission documentation
- Fitting and contents form
- Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
- Leasehold or freehold information
- Details of the mortgage
How do you instruct our conveyancing solicitors in Bristol?
All you need to do to get started is give us a call or you can request a conveyancing quote using our simple online form.
Our Bristol conveyancing team will be able to run through the initial stages of your conveyancing transaction and, once your file is opened, your conveyancer will take care of all of the legal details related to your transaction.
Whether you are to, from, or across Bristol, our conveyancing solicitors will be able to lend their expertise.
Get in touch with our conveyancing solicitors in Bristol
Get in touch with our conveyancing solicitors in Bristol by giving us a call or you can get an online conveyancing quote.