Buying or Selling Property in Harrow? We Handle the Legal Side.
Kenton Solicitors is a Law Society CQS-accredited conveyancing firm based on Kenton Road, Harrow — not a remote call centre, not a national factory firm. When you buy or sell a property through us, you deal with a qualified solicitor in your local area, from instruction to completion.
We handle freehold and leasehold sales and purchases, remortgages, transfers of equity, new builds, shared ownership, and buy-to-let transactions — at fixed fees agreed in advance, with no referral fees paid to estate agents.
Whether you are a first-time buyer, an experienced investor, or selling a family home, our conveyancing team is here to make the process as straightforward as possible.
Free Consultation — 020 8907 2444Our Conveyancing Services
We cover every type of residential property transaction — from straightforward purchases to complex leasehold and new build matters.
Residential Purchase
Full legal representation for buyers of freehold and leasehold properties. We handle searches, enquiries, mortgage conditions, exchange, and completion — and keep you informed at every stage.
Residential Sale
We prepare the contract pack, deal with buyer enquiries, liaise with the estate agent, and manage the legal completion process so your sale proceeds without unnecessary delay.
Remortgage
Switching lender or releasing equity? We act for you and your new lender, handling all legal formalities efficiently to meet your mortgage offer deadline.
Transfer of Equity
Adding or removing a name from a property title — whether following a relationship change, a gifting arrangement, or tax planning — requires careful legal handling. We manage the full process.
New Build Properties
New build conveyancing has tight deadlines and unique risks — developer contracts, reservation fees, and exchange deadlines that differ from standard transactions. We know the process and protect your interests.
Leasehold & Shared Ownership
Leasehold transactions involve lease reviews, service charge analysis, and management company enquiries. Shared ownership adds further complexity. We handle both with the thoroughness they demand.
The Conveyancing Process — Step by Step
Most residential transactions follow the same legal stages. Here is what to expect from instruction to completion.
Instruction & ID Checks
You instruct us, we carry out identity and anti-money laundering checks, and open your matter file.
Searches & Enquiries
We order local authority, drainage, and environmental searches, and raise enquiries with the seller's solicitors.
Mortgage Offer
We review your mortgage offer, report to your lender, and ensure all conditions are met before exchange.
Exchange of Contracts
Contracts are signed and exchanged. The completion date is legally fixed. Your deposit is transferred.
Completion & Registration
Funds are transferred, keys are released, and we register your ownership with HM Land Registry.
Why Choose Us for Conveyancing in Harrow?
There is no shortage of conveyancing firms. Many are national call centres where your file passes through several hands and you rarely speak to the same person twice. That is not how we work.
At Kenton Solicitors, your conveyancing matter is handled by a qualified solicitor — based in Harrow, accessible in person, and accountable to you throughout. We have been doing this for over two decades and we are accredited under the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme.
We do not pay referral fees to estate agents. If we are recommended to you, it is because someone believes we will do a good job — not because we paid for the recommendation.
Speak to a SolicitorCQS Accredited
We hold the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation — the recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing, awarded only after a rigorous assessment process.
On All Major Lender Panels
We are accepted by all major mortgage lenders. Whether you are buying with Nationwide, Halifax, HSBC, Barclays, Santander, or any other mainstream lender, we can act for both you and your bank.
Fixed Fees, No Surprises
Our fees are fixed and agreed before we begin. No hidden charges mid-transaction, no unexpected bills on completion day. You know exactly what you are paying from the outset.
Direct Access to Your Solicitor
You deal with one solicitor who knows your file. Not a call handler reading notes from a screen — a qualified professional who has been with your matter from the start.
Locally Based in Harrow
Our office is on Kenton Road. You can come in, sit down, and talk through your transaction face to face — something a national online conveyancer simply cannot offer.
We Handle All Types of Property
From terraced houses to high-rise apartments, our experience covers the full range of residential property in Harrow and across north-west London.
First-Time Buyers
We walk you through every stage, explain every document, and make sure you are never left wondering what is happening with your purchase.
Buy-to-Let Investors
Investment purchases, portfolio transfers, and multi-unit transactions handled efficiently with an understanding of the landlord's specific legal requirements.
Auction Purchases
Auction completions typically have a 28-day deadline. We work quickly to meet the timescale and protect your deposit.
Probate & Divorce Sales
Sensitive transactions requiring careful handling. We manage the legal process with discretion and ensure all parties are properly protected.
High-Value Properties
Executive homes and higher-value transactions require thorough due diligence and an experienced solicitor. We act on properties at all price points.
Listed Buildings
Listed properties require additional searches, planning enquiries, and care around permitted works. We know what to look for.
Help to Buy & Shared Ownership
Government scheme transactions involve additional legal complexity. We are experienced in Help to Buy equity loan repayments and shared ownership staircasing.
Lease Extensions
A short lease significantly affects a property's value and mortgageability. We advise on statutory and informal lease extension routes.
What Does Conveyancing Cost?
Every conveyancing transaction involves two types of cost: your solicitor's legal fee, and disbursements — third-party costs paid on your behalf. The government-set figures below are fixed by law and apply regardless of which solicitor you use.
Our Legal Fees
Fixed fees — agreed before we begin
Our solicitor's fees vary by transaction type, property value, and complexity. We provide a full, fixed quote in writing before any work begins — no hidden charges, no surprises on completion day.
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) Rates 2025/26
SDLT is paid to HMRC on the purchase of property in England. It applies to both freehold and leasehold purchases, whether bought with a mortgage or cash. Your solicitor submits the return and pays on your behalf within 14 days of completion. Rates effective from 1 April 2025.
Standard Buyer (not a first-time buyer, not an additional property)
| Property Price Band | SDLT Rate | Tax on This Portion |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% | £0 |
| £125,001 – £250,000 | 2% | Up to £2,500 |
| £250,001 – £925,000 | 5% | Up to £33,750 |
| £925,001 – £1,500,000 | 10% | Up to £57,500 |
| Above £1,500,000 | 12% | On the excess |
Example: Buying at £400,000 — SDLT = £0 on first £125k + £2,500 on next £125k + £7,500 on remaining £150k = £10,000 total
First-Time Buyers (property price up to £500,000)
| Property Price Band | SDLT Rate | Tax on This Portion |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £300,000 | 0% | £0 |
| £300,001 – £500,000 | 5% | Up to £10,000 |
| If the purchase price exceeds £500,000, standard rates apply in full — first-time buyer relief is lost entirely. | ||
Example: First-time buyer at £350,000 — SDLT = £0 on first £300k + £2,500 on next £50k = £2,500 total
Additional Dwellings (buy-to-let / second home)
| Property Price Band | SDLT Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 5% | +5% surcharge on every band |
| £125,001 – £250,000 | 7% | |
| £250,001 – £925,000 | 10% | |
| £925,001 – £1,500,000 | 15% | |
| Above £1,500,000 | 17% |
The 5% surcharge applies to every purchase where you will own more than one residential property on completion. A refund may be available if you sell your previous main residence within 3 years.
Source: HMRC. Rates effective 1 April 2025 and confirmed unchanged through the 2025/26 tax year. Non-UK residents pay an additional 2% surcharge on top of all rates above. Check rates on GOV.UK →
Land Registry Registration Fees 2026
When you purchase a property, your solicitor registers the change of ownership at HM Land Registry. The fee is calculated on the purchase price and is paid on your behalf as a disbursement. These fees are set by statutory instrument and apply to all residential purchases in England and Wales.
| Purchase Price | Electronic Application (standard) | Postal Application |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £80,000 | £20 | £30 |
| £80,001 – £100,000 | £40 | £60 |
| £100,001 – £200,000 | £95 | £140 |
| £200,001 – £500,000 | £135 | £200 |
| £500,001 – £1,000,000 | £270 | £400 |
| £1,000,001 and above | £455 | £680 |
Source: Land Registration Fee Order 2024, effective 9 December 2024. Most solicitors submit electronically — the electronic fee applies in the vast majority of residential transactions. A separate charge applies for registering the mortgage (typically £20–£40). View official HMLR fees →
The government figures above are the same regardless of which solicitor you instruct. In addition to these, you will pay search fees (typically £300–£450 for the standard pack in the London Borough of Harrow) and your solicitor's legal fee. We provide a full, itemised breakdown of every cost in your client care letter before any work begins.
Leasehold Property — What Buyers in Harrow Need to Know
A significant proportion of properties in Harrow are leasehold — particularly flats and purpose-built apartments. Buying a leasehold property is legally more complex than buying freehold and there are several issues that can affect the value and mortgageability of your purchase if not identified early.
Our solicitors review every leasehold carefully — checking the lease length, ground rent provisions, service charge accounts, and the management company's financial position before you are committed to the purchase.
Talk to Us About LeaseholdLease Length
Leases below 80 years become difficult to mortgage and harder to sell. Below 70 years, most high street lenders will decline. We flag short leases early and advise on extension options before you exchange.
Ground Rent
Since the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022, ground rent on new leases is capped at a peppercorn (effectively zero). Older leases may carry ground rents that double periodically — a known lender concern that we identify and report on.
Service Charges
We obtain three years of service charge accounts and review the management pack for any major works planned or pending. Unexpected major works bills can run to thousands of pounds — we make sure you know before you commit.
Lease Extension
Once you have owned a leasehold property for two years, you have a statutory right to extend the lease by 90 years. We advise on both the formal statutory route and informal negotiation with the freeholder.
How a Property Chain Works
Most transactions are part of a chain — where your purchase depends on your buyer completing, and their purchase depends on someone else. Understanding the chain is essential to managing expectations on timescales.
First-Time Buyer
No property to sell. No chain above them. The simplest position — and why sellers often prefer first-time buyers.
Your Seller
Selling to you, buying from C. Their completion depends on C being ready — and you being ready.
You
Buying from B, selling to A. You are in the middle of the chain. Both transactions must exchange and complete simultaneously.
Your Buyer
Buying your property. May themselves have a sale — extending the chain further. The longer the chain, the more moving parts.
All parties in the chain must exchange contracts simultaneously. If one party pulls out before exchange, the transaction collapses but there is no legal penalty. After exchange, withdrawal triggers significant financial consequences. Our job is to progress your matter as quickly as possible to get you to the security of exchange — and keep the chain moving by liaising with all other solicitors in the transaction.
Conveyancing Solicitors Who Know the Harrow Property Market
Harrow's property market is one of the most active in north-west London. From the Victorian terraces of Kenton and Wealdstone to the purpose-built apartments of Harrow town centre and the larger family homes of Hatch End and Pinner — each area has its own character, its own common title issues, and its own property types.
Our solicitors have been advising buyers and sellers in this market for over two decades. We understand local leasehold arrangements, we know which developers operate in the area, and we are familiar with the estate agents, mortgage brokers, and other professionals our clients work with.
We advise clients across Harrow and the surrounding areas of north-west London and Middlesex.
Important Notice
We Do Not Pay Referral Fees
Many conveyancing firms pay estate agents and mortgage brokers a referral fee for recommending them to clients. This cost is invariably passed on to you — in higher legal fees, in compromised advice, or both.
We do not operate that way. We have never paid referral fees. If a professional recommends us, it is because they trust the quality of our work — not because we paid for the introduction.
Opening Hours
Monday – Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Walk-ins welcome. Appointments available in person, by phone, or video call.
020 8907 2444Conveyancing FAQs
Ready to Instruct a Conveyancing Solicitor in Harrow?
Free initial consultation. Fixed fees. CQS accredited. Based in Harrow.
