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Personal Law
Property and Conveyancing Solicitors
Property experts who support you every step of the way.
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Our trusted lawyers are known for providing high quality legal advice with exceptional client service. Whether you are investing in your first property, buying a family home, downsizing, buying multiple investment properties or a developer with a property portfolio, we will support you through every stage of the process, explain everything clearly, and ensure you have access to the right legal and extended professional team.
Where appropriate, we use the latest technology to speed up the whole conveyancing process and be as transparent as possible – however, we always ensure that our clients are at the heart of everything we do and your dedicated legal advisor will do their best to ensure the transaction is carried out in accordance with your preferences.
Our approach
We pride ourselves on our personal approach and your case will always be handled by a designated team member, who will know your matter in detail and will be on hand to ensure it runs smoothly. You can expect a proactive, responsive and technically excellent member of our team as your legal partner throughout the transaction, who will communicate with you regularly, and in your preferred method.
We aim to provide service levels that rival top London firms, with the added benefit of excellent local knowledge of the property market and an extensive network of professional contacts such as buying agents, mortgage brokers and banks, accountants and surveyors. We are on the panels of the majority of UK mortgage lenders, so you can be confident that you’re choosing a firm trusted by leading mortgage companies.
Recognition of our expertise
Our ability in the firm to collaborate with legal experts across the field in areas such as tax and estate planning, commercial property and planning and environmental law puts us in a position to provide expert guidance on your individual matter, such as specific support for property developers, those buying to let or requiring specialist banking advice.
The team holds The Law Society of England and Wales’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation, a mark of excellence, which we have maintained since 2012.
Brachers is consistently recommended in the Legal 500 directory, as well as being recognised in the Chambers and Partners directory and the Chambers High Net Worth Guide. Senior Paralegal and Completions Executive Clare Waters was also praised at the National Paralegal Awards 2023 where she was awarded the Best Conveyancing/ Real Estate Paralegal.
How we can help
For more information on the services and support available to you please expand the sections below or get in touch with our team today.
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Buying and selling residential property
Our specialist property lawyers can support and advise you through your sale or purchase from start to finish.
We specialise in complex estates and multiple dwelling developments, however, whether you’re getting a first foot on the ladder, in a complex chain, or downsizing, our expertise will help you to get the best outcome.
Properties worth £1million or over
To provide you with a bespoke quote tailored to your needs we recommend you book a no obligation online appointment with one of our team.
By discussing the transaction with you at the outset, we are confident that our fixed fee quote takes into account all relevant work, thus reducing the possibility of any additional charges.
As a guide, our charges would start in the region of £2500 plus VAT.
Properties under £1million
For a quick and easy way to start your conveyancing journey, get a conveyancing quote online today or get in touch using the contact form to the right of the page or by calling 01622 690691.
If you are a first time buyer and want to know more information about the conveyancing process, take a look at our simple animation below, or download our conveyancing process flowchart for more detail about the steps involved in buying and selling property.
Mortgages and remortgaging
We are on the panels of the majority of UK mortgage lenders and have extensive experience in dealing with lenders on a wide range of sales and purchases.
Lenders can have specific and sometimes complex requirements. We will work closely with them and with you to make sure these conditions are met and the transaction goes smoothly.
We also offer a competitive remortgage service and carry out more complex mortgage-related work, for example where transfers of equity are involved.
Properties under £1million
Get a remortgage quote online today or get in touch using the contact form to the right of the page or by calling 01622 690691.
Properties worth £1million or over
To provide you with a bespoke quote tailored to your needs we recommend you book a no obligation online appointment with one of our team.
Joint ownership
If you’re buying a property with someone else, we can advise you on the right form of joint ownership for your situation.
Find out more about the differences between joint tenants and tenants in common.
Equity release
If you’re over 55 and want to release money from your home without having to move out, equity release could be the solution.
Find out more about equity release and how we can help.
Transfer of equity
Transfer of equity is the legal process to add or remove an owner of a property, where at least one of the original owners will remain. For example, it can be used where a co-owner is buying out another co-owner’s share, or when a new spouse or civil partner is added to a title.
Our skilled lawyers can manage the process and give you clear, impartial advice on your options and any possible tax implications.
We understand that sometimes transfers of equity take place in difficult circumstances, such as divorce or separation, and we’re experienced in handling these matters with sensitivity.
Find out more about how transfer of equity works and get a quick and easy quote online.
Buy-to-let properties and Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR)
Whether you’re entering the buy-to-let market for the first time, or an experienced landlord, we can help you buy, sell and manage your properties.
This includes:
- conveyancing for new properties or when selling part of your portfolio
- advice on meeting your mortgage lender’s requirements for buy-to-let properties
- obtaining the EPCs and Gas Safety certificates required for rental properties
- advising on tenancies and letting agreements, particularly where more tailored clauses are needed or you’ve encountered problems and disputes.
In the most recent budget, Jeremy Hunt announced that Multiple Dwelling Relief (MDR) for SDLT (Stamp Duty) will be abolished from 1 June 2024.
MDR is a relief that a purchaser can claim when acquiring one or more dwelling in a single transaction or linked transactions. MDR is a relief for bulk purchases which allows a purchaser to calculate the SDLT based on the average value of the dwelling being purchased rather than the aggregate value, thus resulting in a reduction in the total amount of tax due (subject to meeting certain criteria).
The relief was first introduced in 2011 to boost investment in residential properties. However, HMRC carried out an evaluation which indicated that there was no strong evidence to support this and so the Government has decided to scrap it from 1 June 2024. There has also been a suggestion that the tax relief was abused and it’s certainly true that there has been a rise in cases involving MDR going to the tax tribunal.
What if I’ve already exchanged contracts?
If you exchanged contracts on or before 6 March 2024, you can continue to benefit from the relief, even if the completion date is after 1 June 2024.
What if I have not exchanged contracts?
Provided you exchange and complete prior to 1 June 2024, you still have the opportunity to benefit from MDR if the purchase meets the necessary criteria. However, don’t forget the 1 June is a Saturday, so the last date for completion with the benefit of MDR is 31 May 2024 .
Find out more about our legal support for landlords and property portfolio holders.
Plot sales and residential developments
We have extensive experience advising residential developers on plot sales and helping you to achieve a swift return on your investment.
Our cross-departmental team works closely with you every step of the way from buying the site, through the planning and development processes, to the final stages of the plot sale.
We support clients with issues such as:
- setting up the site, including any management company issues
- dealing with the granting of rights to utility providers
- negotiating the release of any security on the land on completion of each plot
- conveyancing for freehold or leasehold plots, whether completed units or off plan.
Find out more about our legal services for property developers.
Leasehold properties
Whether you’re the landlord or tenant of a leasehold property, we can help you cut through the complexities of leasehold law.
Find out more about how we can support you with lease extensions.
We can also act on sales and purchases of leasehold properties.
Restrictions on our ability to act in regard to leasehold flats
We regret that we are currently unable to act on sales or purchases of leasehold flats in blocks which exceed 5 storeys or 11 metres in height.
This is due to new complexities in regulations and mortgage lender requirements, brought about by introduction of the Building Safety Act 2022 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 following the Grenfell disaster. We are awaiting further guidance and clarification from the government and mortgage lenders as to how we can proceed with leasehold property transactions in such as way that complies with these additional complexities. Until that point, we are unable to act on matters involving properties as described above.
The Building Safety Act 2022 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 may have implications for you if are looking to buy a leasehold flat or if you own a leasehold flat and are looking to sell, remortgage or transfer equity. For more information or to discuss your individual circumstances, please call our team and we will be happy to help.
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Pricing
We believe in transparent pricing and aim to be as accurate at the outset as possible in terms of cost and timescales. If for any reason our quoted price needs to change we endeavour to inform you as early as we can.
Contact our residential conveyancing solicitors
Our property and conveyancing solicitors are based in Maidstone and Canterbury and are ready to help with any legal advice you may require so please get in touch today.
For properties of £1million and over, we ask that you call us directly to book an appointment with one of our team online to discuss your property with you. We can then assess the potential complexity of the transaction and provide you with an accurate fixed fee quote.
For properties under £1million, our quick and easy online conveyancing quote tool will provide you with a quote for your conveyancing needs.
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Get in touch
Please fill out the below form or alternatively you can call us on 01622 690691
Contact form
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Expertise
Useful Resources
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What is equity release and how does it work?
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A guide to remortgaging your property
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Changing ownership of property: how Transfer of Equity works
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Cohabitation agreements and how to protect your assets
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Updated ‘How to rent: the checklist for renting in England’ guide
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How clean should my house be on a sale?
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What happens on completion day?
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Mike and Heidi, ClientsOnce again you both made what is a very stressful time, a lot easier with your efficiency and calming nature, we really appreciate this. We are extremely happy with our new home and once again thank you for your involvement in helping us achieve this.
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Christian and Alice, ClientsAs a complete novice with all the things we need to be aware of when buying a home you helped massively in putting ‘legal talk’ into a language Alice and I were able to fully understand.
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Client quoteI would very much like to thank you personally and the rest of your team at Brachers for the way in which you have helped me through this difficult time in a very considerate, helpful and of course professional manner. It does make a big difference when dealing with such a very personal situation to have a compassionate team behind you, that you can trust implicitly.