Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest steps most of us take, and it should feel exciting rather than overwhelming.
At Preston Redman, we have an expert and experienced team of residential property specialists in Bournemouth to help you.
We have for many years held the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme Accreditation, which is in addition to Preston Redman’s Law Society Lexcel accreditation, a firmwide recognition of excellence.
How We Can Help
Our services, delivered by a team of specialist Residential Property Solicitors, include:
- Sales & Purchases of Freehold and Leasehold Property
- Landlord and Tenant Problems
- New Build Developments Acting for Developer or Purchaser
- Rights of Way, Covenants and Boundary Issues
- Town and Country Planning
- Conservation and Environmental Issues
- Mortgages and Finance
- Advising Landlords and Tenants on Lease Extensions and Purchase of Freeholds
- Trust Deeds to Reflect Owners' Shares in Property
We are able to assist with a wide range of landlord and tenant problems, including:
- variations to leases
- advising on regaining possession of a property
- advising on breaches of lease covenants
- advising on alterations to leasehold property
Sales and Purchases of Freehold and Leasehold Property
Your transaction will be handled by an experienced qualified lawyer, who will explain the process to you, guide you through it, and ease the stress of moving. At Preston Redman we have the experience and know-how to deal with knotty legal questions and to keep the conveyancing process moving.
Landlord and Tenant Problems
We are able to assist with a wide range of landlord and tenant problems, including:
- variations to leases
- advising on regaining possession of a property
- advising on breaches of lease covenants
- advising on alterations to leasehold property
Newly Built Developments Acting for Developer or Purchaser
We can guide you through a purchase of a new build property, including:
- checking planning and building regulations
- securing new home warranty protection (NHBC or equivalent)
- checking on rights of way
- checking on services to the property
- checking no unfair or onerous covenants restricting your use of the property
We act for many developers, dealing with:
- setting up the legal documents required for a development
- site visits to get to know your development site
- creating a comprehensive plot sales pack
Rights of Way, Covenants and Boundary Issues
At Preston Redman, we can advise you on:
- ensuring proper rights of way are in place to access a property
- effect of covenants and enforceability of covenants over a property
- interpretation of boundaries and advice in the event of a boundary dispute
Town and Country Planning
We can assist with:
- advising you on the effect of planning permissions and conditions attached to planning permissions
- certificates of lawful use
- planning enforcement notices
- section 106 agreements and Community Infrastructure Levy
- Interpretation of planning search carried out during a purchase
Conservation and Environment Issues
Our residential property team at Preston Redman can advise on:
- Interpretation of environmental search carried out during a residential purchase, including highlighting any risk of contaminated land, subsidence or flooding
- Checking whether a property is in a conservation area and advising on effect if it is
- Checking whether a property is a listed building and raising enquiries to make sure that any works to a listed building have been properly authorised.
Mortgages and Finance
We can act for both you and your mortgage company on a residential purchase or remortgage. Our Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation enables us to carry out the legal work on mortgages for a very wide range of well known and smaller lenders
Advising Landlords and Tenants on Lease Extensions and Purchases of Freeholds
This area of law is often known as enfranchisement. At Preston Redman, we have specialist lawyers who can help you with:
- Guiding you individually, or along with fellow tenants, on the process of purchasing the freehold of a property
- Advising you on the complicated statutory procedures involved
- Extending your lease to achieve a longer term, making your leasehold property more valuable and more mortgageable
- For landlords handling requests and notices relating to freehold purchases or lease extensions
- Advising you on applications for a right to manage (tenants and landlords)
Pricing:
Our fair pricing policy means that you know from the outset what your mortgage will cost.
We provide a clear itemised estimate, enabling you to see a breakdown of the work we will undertake and the associated charges. If additional work is required, we will always let you know in advance, so there are no unexpected costs.
The partners are always happy to discuss fees on an individual basis with clients.
Detailed notes on pricing and associated guidance are available here.
Trust Deeds to Reflect Owners’ Shares in Property
If you are buying a residential property jointly with someone else, we can advise on the different ways of owning the property, including:
- Holding as beneficial joint tenants and explaining how a property would pass on death by survivorship
- Advising on how to protect interests when buyers or owners contribute to the cost of a property in unequal shares
- Advising on the effect of holding as tenants in common
- Drawing up a declaration of trust setting out how the value of a property would be distributed to owners holding in unequal shares in the event of a sale
Please call or email our helpful team today so we can guide you through your residential property legal requirements.
Why choose Preston Redman?
Buying, selling or managing residential property is rarely just a transaction, it's your home, your investment, and often one of the biggest decisions you'll make. Our residential property team in Bournemouth has supported homeowners, landlords and investors across Dorset since 1876, and we act for clients nationally too.
We hold the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme and Lexcel accreditations, and clients rate us 5.0 out of 5 on ReviewSolicitors, but what really sets us apart is how we make a stressful process feel manageable, with clear explanations and genuine care from start to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does conveyancing take?
It varies depending on the complexity of the chain and the property, but a straightforward purchase or sale typically takes around 8 to 12 weeks.
What is enfranchisement?
Enfranchisement is the legal process that allows leaseholders to buy the freehold of their building, or to extend their lease, giving them greater security and often adding value to their property.
Do I need a survey when buying a property?
It isn't a legal requirement, but we always recommend one. A survey can reveal issues that aren't visible during a normal viewing, giving you room to negotiate or, if necessary, walk away.
What's the difference between joint tenants and tenants in common?
Joint tenants automatically inherit each other's share if one owner dies. Tenants in common each hold a separate share, which can be left to whoever they choose in their Will.
Need help with residential property?
Whether you're buying, selling, remortgaging or need advice on any aspect of residential property, our team is here to help guide you through your residential property legal requirements. Contact us today.
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