April 25, 2025
Sarah Cookson, Head of Residential Conveyancing at Switalskis, was recently interviewed by BBC Look North for her professional views into the risks faced by homebuyers purchasing properties off-plan.
Residential Conveyancing
Buying and selling homes and property can be an arduous process and it often seems complicated and time-consuming. Our residential conveyancing solicitors help you with every stage of the house buying and selling process to make it as stress-free as possible, so you can focus on everything else that comes with a new property.
At Switalskis, we're all about making the legal bits of owning, buying or selling a home as easy as possible. Our team are nationally regonised solicitors and conveyancers who understand the nuances of conveyancing, and they're here to guide you througout.
They're experts who get that buying your first home, moving house or investing in property is a big deal. Our clients get a dedicated conveyancer who handles your transaction from start to finish. Our team are experienced in buying and selling property, buy to let and holiday let purchases, shared ownership, leashold properties and more.
If you are not yet ready to proceed but would like an estimate for your conveyancing costs, simply click the 'Get an Estimate' button below and enter the relevant details. If you are ready to proceed then we are here to help and are available to provide you with a tailored quote specific to your transaction and property. For your tailored fixed fee quote please call us on 0800 012 9085 .
The estimates and pricing information available to you through the website is the correct pricing information for any prospective client approaching our firm directly and not as a result of a recommendation from a commercial third party, such as an estate agent or housebuilder.
As a law firm offering conveyancing services, we have commercial referral arrangements with or receive direct recommendations from, third parties such as estate agents or housebuilders. Our prices in these instances will be different to the price available to you direct (which may be higher or lower than the estimate created on this website). For further information see Conveyancing Fee Information.
Want to know more? Just give us a ring on 0800 012 9085 or contact us through our website.
When you reach out to us, we start by understanding what you're looking to achieve with your residential property - whether it's buying, selling or something else. We'll give you the lowdown on what steps are involved, so you'll know what's coming and what you need to do.
We're by your side the whole way, explaining the legal bits and sorting out all the paperwork. We do the heavy lifting on the legal front, so you can focus on what matters - your future plans. We get that every property journey is unique, so our advice is tailored to fit your circumstances.
With Switalskis, you're not just hiring a legal expert; you're joining forces with a team that genuinely wants the best for you. We'll keep you in the loop at all times, so you're never in the dark and can make decisions confidently.
Our aim is to make the legal stuff in residential conveyancing a breeze, one of the ways that we do this is via our online portal. Here's how it works:
Our mission is simple: to make the legal side of dealing with your residential property a walk in the park, so you can focus on what comes next.
Residential conveyancing may sound like legal jargon, but it's simply the legal process that happens when you buy or sell a residential property. The process involves a few key steps, from initial paperwork to the final transfer of ownership, and it's our job to help guide you through this maze.
We handle all these steps, but you’re always in control. We make sure you understand what's happening at each stage, so you can make the best decisions for you.
At Switalskis, our focus is to make this process simple and stress-free, leaving you confident and ready for whatever your property journey holds next.
Our residential conveyancing solicitors are accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), so you can have confidence in our expertise and the service we deliver.
The CQS standard requires firms to have a high standard of practice management and provide excellent client care. The CQS badge of quality is highly regarded by mortgage lenders too - many will not deal with solicitors who aren’t CQS accredited. Switalskis is on the approved panel of solicitors for all major lenders, meaning you can use our residential conveyancing solicitors no matter which mortgage lender you choose.
The role of a residential conveyancing solicitor is many-sided and vital when it comes to the process of buying or selling a residential property. Here's a breakdown of their key responsibilities:
First and foremost, a residential conveyancing solicitor is your legal adviser. They share what you need to know about property law and the legal aspects of property transactions. They help you understand your rights and responsibilities, making sure you're aware of the finer points that could affect your decision-making process.
Your solicitor will draft, prepare and review several essential documents needed for the property transaction. These may include contracts, Land Registry documents and other legal papers that are instrumental in transferring the ownership of the property.
Solicitors conduct various property searches to identify any issues that could impact your transaction. These may include Local Authority searches, environmental checks, and reviewing title deeds to make sure there are no legal hitches or financial liabilities, like unpaid land taxes, that could come back to haunt you.
Throughout the process, your solicitor acts as a mediator and communicator between you and all other parties involved, such as the other party's solicitor, estate agents, mortgage lenders, and surveyors. They negotiate terms, verify the legitimacy of claims and help to organise dates for the survey, exchange and completion.
Solicitors play an important role in managing the financial aspects of your property transaction. They help you understand the full scale of costs involved, including stamp duties, registration fees and their own fees. They'll also be responsible for transferring the funds for the purchase, making sure that money changes hands securely and legally.
After the exchange and completion are done, the solicitor makes sure that all legal aspects are tied up. This includes registering the new ownership details with the Land Registry and handling the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax, if applicable.
If you're thinking of buying or selling a home and need clear, expert advice, Switalskis is the team for you.
Dealing with property can be confusing. But don't worry, we're here to make it easy. We'll answer all your questions, break down the legal talk and keep you in the loop. That way, you'll always know what's going on and feel confident about your choices.
Buying or selling a home is a big deal, and we get that. We're here to listen, understand what you need, and give advice that fits you. You're not just another case for us; you're a person going through a big life moment, and we want to make it as stress-free as we can.
When it comes to legal stuff around property, you want someone who knows their way around. That's us. We've got heaps of experience and a track record that says we know our stuff, helping folks like you make smooth moves.
We're all in for getting you the best deal and making sure your rights are looked after. From our first chat to handing over the keys, we'll keep you clued in so you always know what's happening.
Sarah Cookson, Head of Residential Conveyancing at Switalskis, was recently interviewed by BBC Look North for her professional views into the risks faced by homebuyers purchasing properties off-plan.
Two wins for our residential and new build teams and a shortlist for our Business Development Executive at The British Conveyancing Awards 2025.
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax that people in England have to pay when they buy property or land over a certain price. The amount payable is set to change from April 2025.
Switalskis has further enhanced its residential conveyancing team with the promotion of Hannah Midgley and the appointment of Wendy Welburn.
Want to know more? Just give us a ring on 0800 012 9085 , or get in touch through our website.