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Whether a property is freehold or leasehold can have a significant impact on your rights and responsibilities as an owner. Freehold ownership generally means you own both the property and the land on which it sits, while leasehold ownership gives you the right to occupy a property for a fixed period under a lease agreement.
Understanding the differences is important when buying, selling or managing property. Our experienced property solicitors provide practical advice on freehold and leasehold ownership, including lease extensions and enfranchisement matters. We help clients understand their options, protect their interests and make informed decisions with confidence.
Our specialist residential property solicitors (conveyancing solicitors) are part of one of the largest and most experienced property law teams in the region.
We have built excellent relationships over many years with estate agents, property developers and mortgage providers.
Whether a property is freehold or leasehold can have a significant impact on your rights and responsibilities as an owner. Freehold ownership generally means you own both the property and the land on which it sits, while leasehold ownership gives you the right to occupy a property for a fixed period under a lease agreement.
Understanding the differences is important when buying, selling or managing property. Our experienced property solicitors provide practical advice on freehold and leasehold ownership, including lease extensions and enfranchisement matters. We help clients understand their options, protect their interests and make informed decisions with confidence.
Our specialist residential property solicitors (conveyancing solicitors) are part of one of the largest and most experienced property law teams in the region.
We have built excellent relationships over many years with estate agents, property developers and mortgage providers.
Buying a new build home is more complex than the standard legal conveyancing process. We have a specialist New Build team at Herrington Carmichael with a wealth of experience across a range of different transactions.
The new build team deal regularly with schemes like Help to Buy, Shared Ownership and other incentivised new build schemes.
Herrington Carmichael is one of the largest property law firms in the South East. We have been providing conveyancing services for many many years. We have specialists across Residential, New Build, Construction, Disputes and Real Estate.
Our specialist residential property solicitors (conveyancing solicitors) are part of one of the largest and most experienced property law teams in the region.
We have built excellent relationships over many years with estate agents, property developers and mortgage providers.
Whether you are a Commercial Landlord, Tenant or Land Owner, in the event of a dispute our experience covers a range from the complex and high value to the more modest.
We represent clients in the Courts, Property Tribunals, in Adjudication and use Alternative Dispute resolution procedures, including Mediation, to resolve disputes. We understand your concerns to avoid the expense and distraction that disputes can bring and we will work with you to find a solution to your problem.
Our approach is tailored to you to provide an effective strategy. We have a dedicated team of Dispute Lawyers with a range of expertise and experience dealing with property disputes.
Our Property Dispute Lawyers can support on:
Our Family Lawyers are experienced in dealing with all matters in relation to cohabitation.
Moving in with your partner? If you are planning to move in with your partner, but do not currently have any plans to get married, we can help you put a cohabitation agreement in place that makes it clear what each of your financial responsibilities are.
Cohabitation is a term used to describe unmarried couples who are in a relationship and live together. It applies to opposite-sex and same-sex couples. If you and your partner share a home, and are not married or in a civil partnership, you are a cohabiting couple. A cohabitation agreement records the intentions of cohabitants in relation to property and any other assets they own either jointly or individually and what should happen if the relationship breaks down.
Cohabitation agreements are legally binding contracts, provided that they are drafted and executed properly, and are signed as a deed. It is therefore essential to obtain legal advice before entering in to any such agreement.
Whether a property is freehold or leasehold can have a significant impact on your rights and responsibilities as an owner. Freehold ownership generally means you own both the property and the land on which it sits, while leasehold ownership gives you the right to occupy a property for a fixed period under a lease agreement.
Understanding the differences is important when buying, selling or managing property. Our experienced property solicitors provide practical advice on freehold and leasehold ownership, including lease extensions and enfranchisement matters. We help clients understand their options, protect their interests and make informed decisions with confidence.
We specialise in rural and equestrian property, and recognise the expertise required so that buyer and sellers can move quickly and with confidence. Clients value our practical and commercial advice, safe in the knowledge that our focus is on achieving positive results for them. We pride ourselves on providing a first-class service, and through our strength and depth of expertise, we believe we are well placed to address any issue that may arise in your rural and equestrian property deal.
We can help with:
Alex and Lucinda at Herrington Carmichael advised me on the sale of my IFA business, supporting me throughout due diligence, negotiation of the sale agreement and completion. They were responsive, pragmatic and commercially minded throughout what was a significant transaction for me personally. I always felt that they understood what mattered to me, identified and explained the important issues clearly, and kept the process moving towards a successful completion. I would have no hesitation in recommending them to other business owners considering a sale.
Shennind was incredibly clear and thorough throughout; he took the time to properly understand how my app works before advising, which made a real difference given how specific and safeguarding-sensitive my situation was. The advice note he produced was detailed, practical, and gave me genuine confidence in the decisions I was making. I'd recommend him without hesitation.
We were pleased to trust Jamie, Will, and the wider Herrington Carmichael team with our group’s three combined loan facilities with a value of circa £7m. They delivered efficient, strategic advice under a compressed timeline, navigating complex transactional hurdles. Jamie and Will worked collaboratively with my fellow directors and I, as well as the broker, to negotiate key milestones. The security documents involved an intricate suite of facility documentation, which they handled with impressive turnaround times, ensuring clarity throughout the process.
At Arose Finance, we’re delighted to have worked with Herrington Carmichael to deliver a tailored development exit finance solution for this client. Like many SME property developers, the client required additional time to realise the value of completed units while refinancing expensive existing debt. With three borrowing entities and a complex security profile, the transaction required carefully structured property finance and close collaboration between broker, lender and solicitors.
Jamie and Will were exceptional throughout. They worked closely with us to navigate the complexities of the portfolio refinancing, bringing a pragmatic, commercial approach and a real commitment to meeting the required completion timeframe. Their responsiveness and attention to detail were instrumental in achieving a strong outcome for the client.
A fantastic result, and I look forward to working with Jamie, Will and the wider Herrington Carmichael team again soon.
Aadil and the team were excellent and very professional in their efforts to get the legalities to a swift conclusion which is much appreciated. We have used HC for drawing up wills etc and are very impressed with their high standards and professionalism, I highly recommend.
The Real Estate team at Herrington Carmichael were excellent in dealing with this transaction right from the initial negotiations. They delivered their expertise in a pragmatic and commercial way emphasising the importance of having a legal team with the relevant industry knowledge and experience in complex renewable energy and infrastructure agreements. They acted efficiently and responsively and maintained a professional approach throughout the transaction particularly when dealing with unexpected requirements and stringent timescales.
Liz Hailey has been my primary point of contact at Herrington Carmichael and has become a trusted adviser to me and my clients. Liz possesses unparalleled legal knowledge and offers a unique approach to issues, thinking outside the box to come up with solutions. The collaborative approach within the business ensures that we have access to a variety of different legal departments offering an end-to-end service. The communication has been a primary factor in my continuing use and recommendation of Liz and HC.
Rachel Duncan, Anna Svensson, Charlotte Keeper, and Jed Temple are working as a team with both extensive and developing skill sets to collectively deliver a valued leasehold acquisition and advisory service to our in-house team of property professionals. Trusted advice and guidance are always available and quick to respond.
A dedicated, commercially minded team at all levels, with direct communication to principals is a real benefit to us.
I deal with many law firms and in recent years I have noticed a 'shift' toward an 'over' emphasis on ensuring boxes are ticked rather than being solution-led. Jamie Lynch and his team struck the right balance and never forgot that the client actually wants the best outcome!
A strong real estate team with London experience in transactions while also located in the regions. Good communication and sufficient cover when anyone in the team is away from the business. Adapts to client requirements and maintains open communication throughout transactions.
Liz Hailey - huge depth of range, knowledge, and experience in the real estate sector. Liz has picked up our requirements very quickly and has accommodated these where needed. Liz explains things in a simple but knowledgeable manner, and we are confident she is acting in the best interests of her client at all times.
They are genuinely engaged and thoughtful people to work with through a variety of transactions. The key from my perspective is that all challenges are put into relevant context with thorough recommendations made.
The breadth of experience across a wide range of challenging assets is absolutely clear. Expectations and time scales are well managed proactively. Picking up the phone to discuss is of key value; thank you.
We have also greatly benefited from the excellent work of Usof Shah, Immigration Director, whose expertise has been instrumental in helping our members address critical skills shortages in the construction industry. Usof has provided clear, actionable guidance on immigration laws, empowering our members to legally employ skilled foreign workers and sustain their businesses. His commitment extends beyond traditional legal services - he has delivered live webinars and offered free advice to some of our SME members, which was highly valued and, in several cases, helped save their companies. This combination of deep legal expertise, accessibility, and genuine care for clients' success sets him apart from others in the field.
Throughout my UK career, I came across many solicitors and solicitor firms. But Herrington Carmichael is the best so far. Their quick response, wider knowledge, and straightforward decisions come with a very competitive advisory fee. I can easily recommend them, and I did. Their success rate for me is 100%. In a nutshell, they are brilliant.
The individual deals with my requirements and makes sure I fully understand what he is advising and what the best way to proceed is.
Responsive, commercial, and able to explain immigration requirements in clear, simple terms.
The individuals we work with stand out for being approachable, knowledgeable, and responsive. Usof Shah, in particular, has been extremely professional, helpful, and practical in his advice.
Usof Shah stands out for his strong combination of technical expertise, commercial awareness, and responsiveness. He is able to explain complex immigration matters in a clear and practical way while remaining highly approachable and solutions-oriented throughout the process. What differentiates him from competitors is the level of personal attention and ownership he brings to matters. He is proactive, detail-oriented, and demonstrates a strong understanding of the operational and business needs of his clients rather than approaching matters from a purely technical perspective. I have particularly valued his responsiveness, clear communication, and ability to manage matters efficiently under tight timelines. He consistently provides pragmatic advice and maintains a high level of professionalism, which creates a strong sense of confidence and reliability throughout the engagement.
Usof Shah and his team stood out for their professionalism, responsiveness, and clear communication.
Herrington Carmichael’s team stands out for its strong expertise in immigration matters, combined with a highly personalized and responsive service. Over the past few years, they supported me and three members of my family, managing each of our individual cases efficiently and professionally. Compared to other firms, they are notably more organized and responsive.
Dedicated family law team with a passion for the area and a strong commitment to client service. Technically excellent lawyers with good legal judgment. Pragmatic and solutions-focused, providing realistic advice enabling clients to make informed decisions from an early stage.
I have always been impressed with how strong the team's commitment is to client outcomes and how well they balance each other in pushing forward for an outcome while also exploring settlement.
Personalised service - understood requirements. Work lasted several years and through several partners and associates, but the practice was able to ensure a seamless handover of information. Billing was clearly supported.
Herrington Carmichael punches above its weight. For a relatively small firm, it provides excellent service for high-net-worth individuals.
Sarah Speed is an outstanding family lawyer who is a joy to work with. She is very bright as well as being a calm and reassuring presence for her clients. Her down-to-earth and pragmatic advice means that she is not distracted in a case from the issues that matter. She is no pushover, and her clients can rest easy in the knowledge that she will skillfully argue their case for them when necessary, but also find a compromise when contested litigation is not the best way forward for her client.
I am not familiar with the team, but rather with one of the partners, Sarah Speed. However, it seems to me that the breadth of work that the firm covers provides good cross-pollination of legal expertise across various sectors, which may be enormously helpful in some cases.
A lovely team. All very professional and, importantly, friendly.
Graeme Black comes with a host of experience delivered in a manner that is simple to understand. He is friendly, supportive, and a great asset to the firm.
They are extremely knowledgeable about their field and genuinely care about the clients. They are honest and transparent.
Stephen Baker is exceptionally well-experienced, has a steadfast, logical mind, and an incredible ability to pinpoint real issues.
Very knowledgeable team, highly client-focused and with generally quick turnaround of any requests. Very professional approach and very open and honest with their respective areas of expertise.
Stephen conducted complex and challenging litigation and responded to the demands of a demanding client with great patience, determination, and tactical astuteness, while also developing a strong and positive relationship with the other members of the legal team, including counsel. He is a seasoned and highly skilled litigator.
From the first person I spoke to, then to all of the team, they were all polite, precise, and knew exactly what service I was going to need.
Jed was brilliant and really compassionate about my tough situation. He was calming and reassuring when I was quite stressed about my situation. This alone was a real quality that helped me out and one that made him stand out. The whole team was brilliant, very clear on what needed to be done and what the process would look like.
I have now met several partners across a number of disciplines and find them all most accommodating. Mostly, we deal with the litigation team, who are very good, provide sound advice (even when it is not what you want to hear), and are personable and professional. The conveyancing team is also very efficient and seems to look to reserve costs where they can, which is very impressive. HC's billing is also good, quick, and easy to understand.
I have done a lot personally and with my firm over the years with Ed Jones, who is especially effective and with whom we have had a number of wins. He is also a very effective mediator. Jed Temple too has provided excellent advice, and Michelle Lambeth has also been helpful and accommodating.
The whole team was brilliant. They were great at listening and understanding my problem, with the main thing being reassuring about my situation. They explained clearly the different approaches to take and what the outcomes could be.
Friendly service with a clear understanding of what services are involved in a complex legal environment.
The personal touch made me feel like a normal person who made a mistake. They were always quick in responding to my emails and didn’t make me feel like just another case. They related to me in my scenario.
The team's strengths were being very knowledgeable and being able to explain to me the process we would go through with the possible outcomes.
We were very happy with our service. Being first-time buyers and brand new to the property world, Annari & Mary-Jayne relieved all of our worries and made our journey very stress-free and relatively easy. Thank you.
We received excellent support in reviewing and modifying our Wills to our latest needs. The communication has always been straightforward and very effective and we achieved the objectives we set at the beginning of the process. Strong expertise and legal knowledge have been key to the successful completion.
It was a very straightforward process & Charlotte explained everything clearly to us in a very friendly way & answered any queries we had. It was a pleasure to have her deal with this matter, and I would certainly come to your firm of solicitors on that basis. Thank you so much.
Paul provided calm, helpful, constructive and thorough advice on my matter and I will be in touch again to progress.
Aadil has been representing my son through a very challenging child custody/recovery case. His help and knowledge has been fantastic. He went above and beyond working on his day off too make sure court papers were delivered on time. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Aadil.
I just wanted to write a huge thank you for all your help and support during my recent divorce proceedings There were times when it seemed things would never get resolved but thankfully with your guidance everything went relatively smoothly in the end.
Annari is an excellent Solicitor. We have always used her services for all of our property conveyancing jobs. She is a valuable asset to your company.
We had the pleasure of working with Annari on buying our very first house. We would like to take this opportunity to let you know how efficient Annari was throughout the entire process. Annari really helped to make buying our first home an easy process! She absolutely went above and beyond her call of duty.
We’ll guide you through every step of the conveyancing process, making sure you understand your rights and responsibilities – so you can move forward with confidence.
Our property team will help you decode lease terms, ground rent, and service charges, ensuring you’re fully informed before signing anything.
We work proactively with all parties to keep your sale moving, reducing stress and helping you reach completion smoothly and efficiently.
Find answers to your most pressing questions about our services and processes.
You would usually have a deposit which equates to 10% of the purchase price. A reduced deposit can however be agreed, but we would advise that if you have a reduced deposit, you should make your solicitors aware so that it can be agreed before the point of exchange of Contracts.
A typical property purchase takes 8 to 12 weeks from an offer being accepted to completion. This can however be quicker depending on the transaction and chain (if there is one).
Ideally you would have a survey especially if buying an older property. Mortgage lenders will arrange a valuation, but this is purely for the lenders benefit and does not provide a detailed inspection of the property’s condition. It is beneficial to be aware of the condition of a property in order to assess if it is an investment you wish to make.
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from one party to another, typically a seller to a buyer
The deposit is paid on exchange of Contracts
Stamp duty (SDLT) is the tax you pay to HMRC when buying property. The amount of SDLT payable varies depending on the property purchase price. The amount also varies depending if you are a first time buyer or purchasing additional property. You can check the amount of SDLT on gov.uk website.
A property chain is a series of linked property transactions where each buyer and seller depends on another sale or purchase
It is important that you don’t focus purely on how a property looks, but to ask questions about the property’s condition and costs. Some useful questions you may wish to ask are:-
With a leasehold property you own the property for a fixed number of years, but you do not own the land that it stands on. The land is owned by the Landlord/Freeholder.
A freehold property you own both the property and the land that it sits on.
A Leasehold may be cheaper to buy initially and the building is often maintained by a management company, but you should also consider the cost of any service charge or ground rent that may be due.
If purchasing a leasehold flat it is important to consider the number of years still remaining under the Lease as most mortgage companies will not accept a Lease with 80 or fewer years left to run. If that is the case, a Lease extension will likely be required to increase the Lease term.
Yes, you can still purchase a house with a low credit score, but it may be a bit more challenging. When applying for a mortgage, lenders will look at more than just your credit score. They will typically also consider your income, employment status, deposit size, any existing debt and affordability of the mortgage. It may be beneficial to us a mortgage broker in these circumstances.
Once your offer is accepted and if you have not already done so, you should instruct a Conveyance or a Solicitor so that they may start the legal work. If you are purchasing with the assistance of a mortgage, you should ensure your full application has been submitted. It is also advisable to commission a survey to identify any issues with the property before you commit.
You can move into your new home on the day of completion. The completion date is mutually agreed between the seller and the buyer as is set when Contracts are exchanged. Until Contracts are exchanged the completion date can be changed or renegotiated.
Yes, the asking price is not fixed and most buyers negotiate the purchase price. If you have a survey carried out which highlights works that are required to the property, you may be able to negotiate the price further depending on the costs of the works required. The purchase price can be renegotiated up to the point that the Contracts are exchanged.
Exchange of Contracts is when the transaction becomes legally binding for both the seller and buyer. Until exchange of Contracts either party can withdraw from the sale/purchase.
Service charge and ground rent are usually costs associated with a leasehold property.
Service charge is a fee paid to cover the maintenance and management of the building and communal areas. It may include things such as building insurance, cleaning of communal areas, lift maintenance, repairs to the building etc.
Ground rent is the sum paid to the Landlord/Freeholder as they own the land that the property stands on.
Historically ground rent would be paid annually, but newer Leases now have little or no ground rent. When there is no ground rent payable this is sometimes still referred to as a “peppercorn”
There are a number of factors that could result in a transaction falling through. These could be mortgage problems, survey issues, problems within the chain, gazumping (this is when a seller accepts a higher offer from a different buyer), either party may have a change in circumstance which causes them to change their mind. Any transaction can fall through up to the point Contracts are exchanged as it is not legally binding until exchange has taken place.