Services for individuals

Residential Conveyancing

Moving House

Trusted, clear and supportive conveyancing from an experienced local team.

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions most of us will ever make, and it can feel overwhelming at times. Our residential conveyancing team works hard to make the process as smooth, efficient and stress-free as possible, so you can focus on the excitement of moving into your new home.

A personal service, not a call centre

When you instruct Butcher Andrews, your transaction is handled personally by a dedicated member of our property team. You will always know who is acting for you, and you can speak to them or their secretary  directly whenever you need to.

We provide a friendly, responsive services. We understand the local property market and have excellent working relationships with other local legal professionals and estate agents.

We will keep you fully informed during your sale or purchase and will always be open about:

  • Costs and fees
  • Any issues that arise during the process
  • Likely timescales and potential delays

Our aim is simple: to give you confidence and clarity from start to finish.

If you are buying a property

We handle all legal aspects of your purchase, including:

  • Investigating the legal title
  • Carrying out the required property searches and reporting to you on our findings
  • Advising on covenants, rights, restrictions and other key matters
  • Liaising with your mortgage lender and complying the your lender’s requirements.
  • Exchanging contracts on your behalf
  • Managing completion and Stamp Duty requirements
  • Registering your ownership with HM Land Registry.

If you are selling a property

We will:

  • Prepare and supply all necessary documentation to the buyer’s solicitor
  • Assist you with responding to pre-contract enquiries
  • Draft the contract for sale
  • Oversee exchange and completion.

Our focus is always on keeping the transaction moving smoothly and avoiding unnecessary complications.

Other services

We can also help with transfers of equity, gifts of property, land transfers and joint ownership issues.

For a clear, competitive quote or to discuss your sale or purchase, please contact our residential property team. We are here to help.

Our Conveyancing Specialists

Buy-To-Let

Specialist conveyancing support for landlords and property investors.

The buy-to-let market has grown significantly in recent years, with many people choosing to invest in rental property, whether as part of their retirement planning or as a long-term financial strategy. Buy-to-let purchases can be more complex than standard residential transactions, so having experienced legal support is essential.

A personal and responsive service

When you instruct Butcher Andrews, your matter is handled personally by a dedicated member of our property team. You will always know exactly who is dealing with your transaction, and you can speak to them or their secretary  directly whenever you need to. We do not operate call centres or anonymous teams, just friendly, accessible solicitors who understand both the local market and the practicalities of buy-to-let ownership.

We will guide you through the specific issues that often arise with buy-to-let purchases, including:

  • Tenancies already in place
  • Compliance with lender requirements
  • Restrictions or covenants affecting the use of the property
  • Licencing considerations (where applicable)
  • Future responsibilities as a landlord.

We will also keep you fully informed about costs, potential delays and any issues that may affect your investment.

If you are buying a buy-to-let property

Our services include:

  • Checking and reporting on the legal title
  • Carrying out the required property searches
  • Advising on covenants, rights, restrictions and landlord-related issues
  • Liaising with your buy-to-let mortgage lender
  • Exchanging contracts on your behalf
  • Managing completion and Stamp Duty Land Tax requirements
  • Registering your ownership with HM Land Registry.

Whether you are purchasing your first investment property or expanding your rental portfolio, our team can provide clear, practical advice at every stage.

Contact our property department for a competitive quote or to discuss your plans.

Our Buy-to-Let Specialists

Mortgages and Remortgages

Clear, reliable support when securing or updating your mortgage.

Most buyers rely on a mortgage to purchase a property, and lenders require certain checks and legal work before they will release funds. Whether you're buying a new home or remortgaging an existing one, our experienced conveyancing team ensures the process is handled smoothly, accurately and with your best interests in mind.

We are on the approved panels of all major mortgage companies, which means lenders trust us to act for them as well as for you. This helps keep the transaction efficient, reduces the risk of delays and ensures all requirements are met promptly and correctly.

A responsive and personal service

Your matter will be handled by a named member of our property team, someone you can contact directly whenever you need an update.

We will always be open about:

  • Costs and fees
  • Any issues that may arise
  • Likely timescales and possible delays

Our aim is to make the mortgage or remortgage process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.

If you are buying a property

Our service includes:

  • Checking the legal title
  • Carrying out all required property searches
  • Advising on covenants, rights and restrictions
  • Liaising with your mortgage lender and satisfying their conditions
  • Exchanging contracts
  • Managing completion and Stamp Duty Land Tax
  • Registering your ownership with HM Land Registry.

If you are remortgaging

We will:

  • Review the title and identify any issues affecting your lender
  • Checking the legal title
  • Carrying out all required property searches
  • Liaising with your mortgage lender and satisfying their conditions
  • Deal with redemption of your existing mortgage
  • Ensure your new lender’s requirements are met
  • Register the new mortgage at HM Land Registry.

Other services

We can also help with transfers of equity, gifts of property, land transfers and joint ownership issues.

For a clear, competitive quote or to discuss your sale or purchase, please contact our residential property team. We are here to help.

Our Conveyancing Specialists

Residential Conveyancing Fees

Clear, transparent pricing for buying or selling your home.

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale or purchase of your home. This includes dealing with HM Land Registry, handling Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) where applicable, and managing the full legal process from start to finish.

Please note that we act only in relation to property transactions in England, and do not deal with purchases in Wales or elsewhere in the UK.

Our fees are based on various aspects associated with the property including the value of the property, in line with the following scale:
Value of PropertyEstimated Fee (for freehold Property)
£100,000 - £250,000£950 - £1,250
£250,000 - £350,000£1,300 - £1,500
£350,000 - £500,000£1,500 - £1,700
£500,000 - £650,000£1,700 - £2,000
£650,000+POA

  • Electronic money transfer fee (per bank transfer): £40.00 + VAT
  • Electronic ID verification (per person): £5.00 + VAT
    Used to confirm your identity for Anti-Money Laundering purposes.

Disbursements are costs payable to third parties during the transaction, for example, Land Registry fees or search fees. We handle these payments on your behalf to help keep the process running smoothly.

Typical disbursements include:

Search Fees (Purchases)

Searches for a standard residential purchase typically cost approximately  £450. These normally include:

  • An official Local authority search
  • Commons Registration search
  • Water and drainage search
  • Groundsure Homebuyer’s Environmental search
  • Index Map Search
  • Land charges search (where applicable)

The cost varies between local authorities..

Land Registry Fees

Land Registry fees depend on:

  • The purchase price of the property
  • Whether the property is already registered at HM Land Registry or is a first registration
  • If the property is a new Build or plot purchase
  • If the purchase was a ‘sale of part’ of an existing title

You can calculate the fee using the official Land Registry fee calculator:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees

Stamp Duty Land Tax (Purchases Only)

Stamp Duty is calculated based on:

  • The purchase price of the property
  • Whether you are a first-time buyer
  • Whether the property will be your main residence or an additional property
  • If you are a UK resident

You can calculate the amount using HMRC’s online calculator:
https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#/intro

Timescales vary depending on the property and the parties involved. As a general guide:

  • A typical transaction takes 16-20 weeks

Transactions may also vary depending on chain length, mortgage arrangements and responsiveness of third parties.

Additional fees will apply where matters become unusually complex or delayed, for example, defective title issues, indemnity policies, or where a lender appoints separate solicitors, requiring extra work.

Although every transaction is unique, a standard purchase usually includes:

  1. Taking your instructions and providing initial advice and carry out due diligence on your identity and funding
  2. Checking finances are in place and contacting lender’s solicitors if needed
  3. Receiving and advising on the contract pack
  4. Carrying out searches and reporting to you on the results
  5. Raising enquiries with the seller’s solicitor
  6. Advising you on all documents and responses received
  7. Reviewing the mortgage offer and dealing with any mortgage conditions
  8. Sending the final contract, purchase deed, mortgage deed and stamp duty land tax Return to you for your approval and signature
  9. Agreeing a completion date
  10. Exchanging contracts and notifying you
  11. Arranging finances from lender and you
  12. Completing the purchase
  13. Dealing with Stamp Duty Land Tax

Registering your ownership with HM Land Registry.

Our quoted fees assume:

  • A standard transaction with no unforeseen complications
  • All parties cooperate and provide documentation in a timely manner
  • No indemnity policies are required (additional disbursements may apply if so)
  • No significant title defects requiring extensive remedial work.

We can provide a more detailed and personalised estimate if you give us:

  • The property address
  • The property value
  • Your circumstances (e.g. first-time buyer, replacing main home, additional property).

A formal, written estimate will always be provided when you instruct us, and that document should be relied upon over this general website guidance.

Our fees for a standalone mortgage or remortgage are typically £1,100–£1,500 (excluding VAT), depending on property type and lender requirements.

Fees may be higher where your lender instructs their own solicitors, as this creates additional work and correspondence. Most mainstream lenders allow us to act for them and for you; some do not. We will confirm this and provide an accurate estimate once we have your details.

  • Search fees for remortgages follow the same structure as purchase search fees
  • Land Registry fees apply

Stamp Duty is not payable on a remortgage.

Our fee structure for sales mirrors the scale used for purchases, but disbursements are typically lower.

Typical disbursements for a sale include:

  • £10–£20 for HM Land Registry title documents

There are no Stamp Duty or Land Registry fees on a sale.

If the matter becomes unusually complex, additional fees may apply — and we will provide a revised estimate based on the hourly rate of the lawyer handling your case.

Our residential conveyancing team has over 40 years of collective experience acting on a wide range of property transactions.

  • Toni Potter, Partner / Solicitor (Head of Department) — £320/hr
  • Sue Smith, Associate — £270/hr
  • Lydia Larkman, Conveyancing Executive — £250/hr
  • Chloe Daisey, Paralegal - £190/hr
  • Eleanor Macleod, Trainee Paralegal - £190/hr

Further details for each team member can be found on our Our People page.

Get in touch

Opening Hours

Monday - Friday
9am - 5pm
Saturday - Sunday
CLOSED
Our Holt office is closed between 1pm - 2pm

Fakenham Office

Butcher Andrews
1 Old Post Office Street
Fakenham
Norfolk, NR21 9BL

Tel: (01328) 863131

Email: [email protected]

Holt Office

Butcher Andrews
15 Market Place
Holt
Norfolk, NR25 6BE

Tel: (01263) 712023

Email: [email protected]

Contact form

Services for businessess

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Contact us

Fakenham:

Tel: (01328) 863131
Email: [email protected]

Holt:

Tel: (01263) 712023
Email: [email protected]