Moving Home Shouldn’t Feel Like a Second Job

Buying or selling a house is meant to be exciting. Too often, it isn’t — because the legal side feels slow, confusing, and completely out of your hands.

At Shelbournes, we think conveyancing should work the other way round. You get a clear plan, a named solicitor who actually picks up the phone, and updates before you have to chase them. No jargon, no guesswork, no radio silence for three weeks while you wonder what’s going on.

Here’s everything you need to know about conveyancing in Cambridge — and how we make it simpler.

What Is Conveyancing, Exactly?

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from one person to another. It covers everything from checking the title deeds and running local searches, to handling contracts, managing your mortgage lender’s requirements, and registering you as the new owner with the Land Registry.

It sounds straightforward. In practice, a single chain can involve a buyer, a seller, two mortgage lenders, two sets of solicitors, an estate agent, and sometimes a broker — all needing to move in step. That’s where a good conveyancing solicitor earns their fee: keeping everyone talking and the transaction on track.

Our Conveyancing Services in Cambridge

Residential Conveyancing Whether you’re a first-time buyer or moving for the fourth time, we handle the full process — from reviewing contracts and running searches to liaising with your lender and completing the sale.

Sales We prepare your contract pack promptly, respond to buyer enquiries quickly, and keep your chain moving so you’re not the one holding things up.

Purchases We check the title, raise the right enquiries, review your mortgage offer, and make sure nothing is missed before you exchange and complete.

Remortgaging Switching lender or releasing equity? We handle the legal side of your remortgage efficiently, so you’re not paying your existing lender’s rate for longer than necessary.

New Build Purchases New builds come with their own paperwork — building warranties, snagging provisions, and developer timescales. We know what to look for.

Leasehold Transactions Buying or selling a leasehold flat? We check the lease terms, service charges, and ground rent so there are no surprises after you’ve moved in.

Why Choose Shelbournes for Your Conveyancing

A named solicitor, not a call centre. You’ll know exactly who’s handling your file and how to reach them directly.

Fixed fees, no hidden extras. You’ll know the cost upfront, so there’s no nasty surprise on completion day.

CQS accredited. We hold the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation — an independently assessed mark of quality specifically for conveyancing practices.

Local knowledge that matters. We work across Cambridge and the surrounding villages, so we know local search turnaround times, common issues with older Cambridge properties, and how local chains tend to move.

Straightforward communication. We explain each step in plain English, not legalese — and we tell you what’s happening before you have to ask.

How Long Does Conveyancing Take?

On average, conveyancing takes 8 to 12 weeks from offer accepted to completion, though this varies depending on the length of your chain, whether you’re a cash buyer, and how quickly searches and enquiries come back. Chain-free purchases and remortgages can complete faster — sometimes in as little as 4 to 6 weeks.

We’ll give you a realistic timeline from the outset, and keep you posted if anything shifts it.

The Conveyancing Process, Step by Step

1. Instruction – You instruct us and we open your file, take initial ID checks, and send out our client care pack.
2. Contract pack – For sellers, we prepare the draft contract and supporting documents. For buyers, we review what’s been sent.
3. Searches – Local authority, environmental, and water/drainage searches are ordered to flag anything that could affect the property.
4. Enquiries – We raise or respond to enquiries about the property, resolving any issues before you commit.
5. Mortgage offer review – We check your mortgage offer conditions are satisfied and consistent with the contract.
6. Exchange of contracts – Once everyone’s ready, contracts are exchanged and the transaction becomes legally binding.
7. Completion – Funds transfer, keys are released, and the property is officially yours (or officially sold).
8. Registration – We register the change of ownership with the Land Registry and handle Stamp Duty Land Tax where applicable.