Clear, practical support when buying, selling or remortgaging a home
Buying, selling or remortgaging a property can feel complicated, but your legal service should not.
Our multi-award-winning Residential Conveyancing team provides clear advice, fixed fee quotations and regular updates throughout your transaction. You will have a named lawyer responsible for your matter, supported by our experienced property team and our conveyancing app.
We advise clients across England and Wales, with offices in Bristol, Bath and Hereford.
Watkins Solicitors won Conveyancing Firm of the Year, South of England, at the Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2025 and was a finalist in the Legal Category at the Bristol Property Awards 2025.
Our team helps with a wide range of residential property transactions.
BUY
Buying a Property
We review the contract pack, order searches, raise enquiries, check title and lender requirements, report to you before exchange and deal with completion, tax and registration.
Contract pack and title review
Property searches and enquiries
Mortgage lender requirements
Exchange, completion and registration
SELL
Selling a Property
We prepare the contract pack, review the title and property forms, answer the buyer’s enquiries, redeem any mortgage and complete the sale.
Preparing the contract pack
Responding to enquiries
Mortgage redemption
Exchange and completion
FIRST
First Time Buyers
We explain the entire process in plain English, including searches, mortgage requirements, enquiries, exchange, completion and costs.
What happens after offer acceptance
Searches and mortgage requirements
Exchange and completion
Costs and post-completion steps
LEASE
Leasehold Conveyancing
Leasehold transactions need additional checks concerning the lease, service charges, ground rent, insurance, management information and lender requirements.
Lease length and restrictions
Ground rent and service charges
Management company information
Notices, certificates and lender requirements
NEW
New Build Properties
New build purchases often involve reservation deadlines, developer contracts, warranties, planning documents and strict exchange timescales.
Reservation and exchange deadlines
Developer contracts
Planning and building regulations
Warranties and estate arrangements
SHARE
Shared Ownership
We advise on shared ownership purchases, sales, leases, housing association requirements, lender requirements and staircasing.
Purchases and sales
Housing association requirements
Lease and rent provisions
Staircasing
REMORT
Remortgages
We review the new mortgage offer and title, deal with lender requirements, redeem the existing mortgage and register the new charge.
Mortgage offer review
Title and lender checks
Redemption of existing mortgage
Completion and registration
TOE
Transfers of Equity
We help add or remove people from the legal title and advise on lender, Land Registry and relevant tax requirements.
Adding or removing an owner
Mortgage lender consent
Land Registry requirements
Connected family law matters
BTL
Buy to Let
We advise on buy-to-let purchases and remortgages, including lender requirements, lease restrictions, title issues and tenancy arrangements.
Buy-to-let purchases
Buy-to-let remortgages
Lease and title restrictions
Existing tenancy arrangements
RTB
Right to Buy
We advise on the conveyancing process for Right to Buy and similar schemes, including legal documents, lender requirements and completion.
Scheme documentation
Title and contract review
Lender requirements
Completion and registration
Why Choose Watkins Solicitors for Conveyancing?
Clear and personal support
A named lawyer responsible for your matter
Fixed fee quotations for the work described
Regular updates throughout the transaction
Access to our conveyancing app
Communication by telephone, email, video or in person
Experience and recognised standards
Freehold, leasehold and more complex transactions
Advice for clients across England and Wales
Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation
Lexcel accreditation
Multi-award-winning residential property team
Awards and Recognition
Our multi-award-winning Residential Conveyancing team combines recognised legal standards with friendly, practical support throughout your move.
LEAPMODERN LAW CONVEYANCING AWARDS 2025
Winner
Conveyancing Firm of the Year, South of England, Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2025.
Finalist
Legal Category, Bristol Property Awards 2025.
Accredited
Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme and Lexcel accredited.
Get a Clear Conveyancing Quote
Our fixed fee quotations explain the legal fee for the work described, likely disbursements, what is included, what is not included and when additional work may be required.
Your quote will explain
The legal fee for the work described
Likely disbursements
What is included and excluded
When additional work may be required
What payments are needed and when
Transactions requiring extra work
Additional work may arise for leasehold, new build, shared ownership, unregistered or complex-title property. We explain likely additional work or costs before proceeding.
Our conveyancing app helps you track progress, receive updates and understand where your matter is in the conveyancing process.
You can still speak to your conveyancing team by telephone, email, video or in person. The app supports communication and makes it easier to follow key milestones. It does not replace personal contact with your lawyer.
Track the progress of your transaction
Receive updates and notifications
Stay connected with your conveyancing team
Download the Watkins Solicitors App
Available for Apple and Android devices.
What Happens During Conveyancing?
If You Are Buying
You instruct us and complete the initial checks
We receive and review the contract pack
Searches are ordered
We raise enquiries with the seller’s solicitor
We review your mortgage offer and lender requirements
We report to you on the property
You sign the contract and transfer deed
Contracts are exchanged
Completion takes place
Tax and Land Registry requirements are dealt with
If You Are Selling
You instruct us and complete the initial checks
You complete the property information forms
We prepare the contract pack
The buyer’s solicitor reviews the papers and raises enquiries
We work with you to answer enquiries
You sign the contract and transfer deed
Contracts are exchanged
Completion takes place
Any mortgage is redeemed
Net sale proceeds are sent where required
How Long Does Conveyancing Take?
Factors affecting timescales
Property chains
Freehold or leasehold title
Search turnaround times
Mortgage lender requirements
Survey results and legal enquiries
Other possible delays
New build or shared ownership requirements
Management company response times
Information from landlords or freeholders
Local authority responses
How quickly all parties provide documents
We provide realistic advice about timescales and keep you updated as the transaction progresses.
Conveyancing Fraud and Protecting Your Money
Always verify payment instructions before transferring funds.
Check bank details carefully
Be cautious about unexpected payment emails
Treat any change of bank details as suspicious
Contact your conveyancing team directly if unsure
Do not rely on email alone for unexpected instructions
Watkins Solicitors will never ask you to transfer funds to a different bank account by an unexpected email.
Meet Our Residential Conveyancing Team
Sophia Ramzan, Partner and Head of Conveyancing
Sophia leads our friendly, supportive and multi-award-winning Residential Conveyancing team.
She is known for her focused, practical approach and for helping clients feel informed and reassured throughout their property transaction.
Sophia is a senior property lawyer with experience advising individuals, lenders, property investors and developers on straightforward and more complex residential property matters.
Before joining Watkins Solicitors as a Partner and Head of Department, Sophia was a senior lawyer and director at a leading conveyancing firm. She has trained and mentored trainee lawyers and has received several awards during her property law career.
Her experience includes sales and purchases, lease extensions, shared ownership, transfers of equity, new builds and property law training.
A conveyancing solicitor handles the legal work involved in buying, selling, remortgaging or transferring ownership of a property, including contracts, title checks, searches, enquiries, lender requirements, exchange, completion and registration.
As soon as possible once your property is on the market, your offer has been accepted or you know you are remortgaging. Early instruction allows checks and paperwork to begin promptly.
The cost depends on the transaction, property and work required. We provide fixed fee quotations for the work described and explain legal fees, disbursements and when additional work may be needed.
A fixed fee quote usually covers the standard legal work required for the transaction described. It explains what is included, what is excluded and which disbursements are likely to be payable.
Timescales vary depending on the property, chain, mortgage lender, searches, enquiries and how quickly other parties respond. We provide realistic advice and keep you updated throughout.
You do not always need a solicitor based near the property. Watkins Solicitors advises clients across England and Wales, with offices in Bristol, Bath and Hereford.
Common searches include local authority, drainage and water, and environmental searches. Additional searches may be needed depending on the property and location.
Common causes include chains, lender requirements, search delays, leasehold management information, title issues, survey findings, enquiries and delayed responses from other parties.
Exchange of contracts is when buyer and seller become legally committed. Completion is when the purchase money is transferred and the buyer can usually collect the keys.
The position depends on the work completed, the stage reached and the terms of your instruction. We explain likely costs and options clearly at the outset.
Read verified reviews from people who have used Watkins Solicitors.
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