> BUYING & SELLING PROPERTY
TIPS AND ADVICE
Cunningtons conveyancing solicitors in Brighton provide award-winning fixed-fee residential property legal services across Brighton, Hove, and the South Coast.
Based at 31 Duke Street, Brighton BN1 1AG, our property team handles buying, selling, and remortgaging across Central Brighton, Hove, Portslade, Kemptown, Queen’s Park, Seven Dials, Preston Park, Brighton Marina, Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing, Lancing, and across East and West Sussex..
The team is led by Jason Bradshaw, winner of ESTAS Conveyancer of the Year South East 2024. We specialise in period properties, Regency buildings, seafront apartments, new build developments, and conservation area properties. Our firm has over 275 years of property law expertise since they were founded in Essex in 1748.
Award-Winning Conveyancing Solicitors You Can Trust
Get Your Fixed-fee Property Quote Today
Ready to move? Ordering your fixed-fee quote is easy:
Our 4-Step Quote Process
📞 Call our quotes department on 0800 977 7887 for a fast telephone quote
📧 Email quotes@cunningtons.co.uk for a written quotation
🚶♀️ Visit our offices in Duke Street, Brighton
Moving home in Brighton or across Sussex? Get your fixed-fee conveyancing quote in 24 hours from Jason Bradshaw’s award-winning team.
Why Choose Our Conveyancing Team?
We’ve Been Where You Are
Moving home is stressful. Property chains breaking at the last minute. Estate agents going quiet. Mortgage offers about to expire. Hidden costs from other conveyancing solicitors popping up when you least expect them.
We understand, because we’ve helped thousands of people through exactly these situations across Brighton & Hove and the wider Sussex area since 2004.
Here’s what makes our conveyancing services different:
You’ll speak to the same experienced conveyancing solicitor throughout
No call centres. No “your usual contact is away.” You’ll work with one dedicated property solicitor from quote to completion – someone you can call directly whenever you need them.
Fixed fees mean fixed fees
Our conveyancing quote is our quote. No surprise disbursements. No “additional property searches required.” No last-minute extras. What we say at the start is what you pay at the end.
We actually answer the phone
Try us. Seriously. Call 01273 725 229 right now and see how quickly we pick up (in office hours!). That’s how our conveyancing team works throughout your entire property transaction.
We know the local property market inside out
Period properties in conservation areas? Leasehold seafront apartments? New builds at the Marina? ‘Forever’ dream homes in the Sussex countryside? We’ve handled them all. Multiple times. Our experienced solicitors know exactly what legal issues to look out for and how to solve them before they derail your move.
And yes, Jason won ESTAS Conveyancer of the Year for the South East in 2024. But what matters more to us is that our clients across Brighton, Hove, and Sussex actually recommend us.
Read our client reviews here >>
Our Residential Conveyancing Services Across Sussex
Buying Property
From your first viewing to keys in hand, our experienced conveyancing solicitors handle:
- All property searches and legal checks
- Mortgage lender communications
- Contract reviews and negotiations
- Stamp duty land tax submissions and advice
- Land Registry registration
Recent example: First-time buyers purchasing a Victorian terrace in Kemptown – full property chain, completion in 7 weeks despite the seller’s solicitor causing delays.
Selling Your Property
Selling your home? Our residential conveyancing team will manage:
- Title deeds review and contract preparation
- Buyer enquiry responses
- Exchange and completion coordination
- Mortgage redemption statements
- Final account statements with clear fee breakdowns
Recent example: Couple completed both Worthing property sale and South Lancing purchase in 10 weeks to move in for Christmas – handling two residential property transactions simultaneously.
Remortgaging Services
Switching to a better mortgage rate? Our conveyancing solicitors will sort:
- Land Registry title checks and searches
- New mortgage lender documentation
- Secure fund transfers
- Updated property registration
Remortgage conveyancing is simpler than moving, usually completed in 3-4 weeks.
First Time Buyers
Buying your first property can feel overwhelming. Our experienced solicitors guide first-time buyers through:
- Explaining the entire conveyancing process step by step
- Understanding stamp duty land tax thresholds
- What property searches reveal about your new home
- Dealing with property chains – when you’re not in a chain
Get A Quote
Click here to order your quote from our residential conveyancing solicitors:
Understanding the Conveyancing Process
What Happens After You Get Your Quote?
1. Get Your Conveyancing Quote (24 working hours)
Contact our quotes department on 0800 977 7887. We’ll send you a detailed, fixed-fee quote for your residential conveyancing within 24 working hours. No obligation to you, completely free.
2. Decide If We’re The Right Conveyancing Solicitors For You
Read our reviews. Then contact us with any questions about the conveyancing process. Take your time. We’re here when you’re ready to instruct us.
3. Instruct Your Conveyancing Solicitor
Simple ID checks, source of funds verification, and we’re off. Your dedicated property solicitor will introduce themselves and explain the next steps.
4. We Handle All the Legal Work
Property searches, contract reviews, negotiations, dealing with the other party’s solicitors, exchange of contracts, and completion. You’ll get regular updates and can call your solicitor any time you have questions.
5. You Get Your Keys
We transfer the purchase funds, register your property ownership with the Land Registry, handle any stamp duty land tax (SDLT) payments, and send you all the legal documents. Done.
Average completion time: 8-10 weeks for a straightforward residential property purchase
Most people find the conveyancing process much smoother than they expect when working with experienced conveyancing solicitors who communicate clearly.
You should always remember that neither you nor your solicitor are in full control of every part of your property chain, and should be prepared for chain breaks!
Award-Winning Brighton Property Law
Our commitment to excellence in Brighton residential conveyancing has been recognised with the ESTAS gold award for Conveyancer of the Year in the South East of England, 2024. This prestigious award reflects our dedication to providing exceptional legal services for property transactions throughout Brighton & Hove and East Sussex.
When you choose Cunningtons for your Brighton property law quote, you know that you’re selecting an award-winning residential conveyancing team with a proven track record of client satisfaction and legal expertise.
Our Local Property Expertise
Why Local Knowledge of the Property Market Matters
Brighton and the wider Sussex property market present unique challenges. Our experienced solicitors have learned this through decades of handling residential property transactions across the region:
Period Properties & Conservation Areas
The Lanes, North Laine, and other conservation areas in Brighton & Hove have specific planning restrictions. Properties in Lewes and historic Worthing areas face similar challenges. We know what you can and can’t change, and how to check planning history before any legal issues arise.
Coastal Properties Across Sussex
From seafront apartments in Brighton to family homes in Shoreham-by-Sea, Worthing, Lancing, and Peacehaven, coastal properties come with unique considerations. Our conveyancing solicitors understand sea wall maintenance requirements, flood risk assessments, coastal erosion surveys, and environmental searches specific to coastal areas.
Leasehold Property Sales and Purchases
A huge proportion of Sussex property is owned on a leasehold basis. Seafront buildings often have complex management arrangements, high service charges, and strict lease terms. Our experienced conveyancing team reviews every lease carefully, checking ground rent, service charges, lease extensions needed, and building insurance arrangements.
New Build Developments
Brighton Marina, Shoreham Harbour, and new developments across Sussex require additional legal work. Our solicitors handle National House Building Council warranties, snagging list reviews, and developer contract negotiations.
Dealing with Property Chains
Most residential property transactions involve property chains – where your purchase depends on your seller’s purchase. Our experienced conveyancing solicitors excel at managing these chains, maintaining communication with all parties’ solicitors to prevent delays and keep your transaction moving forward.
This local property knowledge isn’t something you get from an online conveyancer in Manchester. This comes from our conveyancing team actually handling hundreds of residential property transactions across Brighton, Hove, Worthing, and the wider Sussex area every year.
Clear Conveyancing Fees
What Does Residential Conveyancing Cost?
Buying a home comes with many costs, but at least your legal fees shouldn’t be unpredictable. Our fixed-fee conveyancing means the quote we provide at the start is the price you’ll pay at completion – no hidden charges, no last-minute extras.
Our conveyancing fees vary based on:
- Property value and transaction type;
- Whether a property is freehold or leasehold; and
- Whether you’re buying, selling, or handling both.
But here’s what’s always true with our conveyancing services:
✅ We quote a fixed fee upfront with no hidden costs
✅ All disbursements (property searches, Land Registry fees) are itemised in advance
✅ No surprise charges for “additional work”
✅ Competitive legal fees for award-winning conveyancing solicitors
Get your exact conveyancing quote in 24 working hours:
Get A Quote
Click here to order your quote from our residential conveyancing solicitors
Meet Jason Bradshaw: Partner in charge of Cunningtons in Brighton & Hove
ESTAS Conveyancer of the Year South East 2024
Jason leads our Brighton & Hove conveyancing team and has seen every type of residential property transaction you can imagine – from straightforward remortgages to complex property chain rescues where everything seemed to be falling apart.
He’s based in our Duke Street office and works with clients face-to-face whenever possible. The ESTAS award is nice, but what Jason cares about most is getting your property transaction over the line smoothly, whether you’re buying your first home or your fifth investment property.
Want to speak to Jason directly about your conveyancing?
Call 01273 725 229
What Our Conveyancing Clients Say
“Have used Cunningtons Brighton for 3 property sales and 3 property purchases. Our recent Worthing property sale and South Lancing purchase was completed in 10 weeks. Jason, Lisa, and the whole team were like the dream team. Simply the best.”
— Robert (multiple properties across Sussex)
“I have bought and sold property before with other solicitors and this was definitely a superior experience. Cunningtons recently handled the conveyancing for my property sale and I was extremely satisfied with their services.”
— Chris, Brighton
“Jason acted for me on a sale and purchase in 2021 and is now acting for me again in the sale of my current property. I would highly recommend Cunningtons and Jason to any potential clients.”
— Adrian, Brighton
“I’ve used Jason twice now for two complicated property sales & he handled them both with ease, professionalism, & unlike so many solicitors, with impressive speed.”
— Jay, Brighton
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.9 out of 5 based on 100+ verified Google reviews
Ready to Start Your Property Transaction?
Instructing Cunningtons as your conveyancing solicitors is straightforward. Simply contact us by phone or email, and we will guide you through the initial stages.
Once your ‘conveyancing file’ is opened, your dedicated conveyancing solicitor will deal with the legal side of the transaction and keep in touch with you throughout the process.
We will require some initial information from you, including:
- Proof of identity;
- Proof of address;
- Proof of sufficient funds;
- Mortgage offer (if applicable.
We will also provide you with a detailed estimate of our fees and disbursements.
Cunningtons Solicitors in Brighton
31 Duke Street
Brighton & Hove
BN1 1AG
United Kingdom
Tel: 01273 725 229
Fax: 01273 779 758
Get Your Brighton Conveyancing Quote Today
Ready to proceed with your property transaction?
Our simple online quote system provides a comprehensive, fixed-fee conveyancing quote within 24 hours.
Request your free Brighton conveyancing quote today!
Experience the difference of working with renowned local solicitors who truly understand the Brighton property market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use an online conveyancing company?
We do not generally recommend using an online conveyancer; although you often pay a lower fee, the level of service will also be lower.
You will rarely speak to the same person twice, and you have to be wary of the extras they add on. An online conveyancer does not necessarily know anything about the area; your local solicitor does, and can guide you.
When you are dealing with something as valuable as your home, it is important not to take risks. And the potential small savings to be made by using online conveyancing don’t add up – yet. We feel that you should meet the solicitor who is working on your case face-to-face.
What is the difference between a conveyancing solicitor and a conveyancer?
When you use a solicitor for conveyancing in Brighton & Hove, you can be sure that they are regulated by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA), members of the Law Society, have degree-level qualifications and at least two years on the job training before qualifying as a conveyancing solicitor.
Whereas a conveyancer tends to be regulated by the Council for Licenced Conveyancers (CLC) and is usually less highly qualified, although can still be perfectly competent.
How do I avoid fraudulent transactions when moving house?
With such large amounts of money changing hands, there can be attempts to steal them in transit.
It is easy to avoid fraud if you follow simple rules:
1 – Never ever disclose bank account details by email.
2 – Never pay money into an account whose details you have received by email.
3 – Both you and your solicitor should pay into accounts whose details you have received by phone or in person.
4 – Ideally, test the veracity of bank account details by making an initial payment of £1 – which you then verify by telephoning your conveyancing solicitor – before paying any more.
What happens in the conveyancing process?
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property, and it happens whenever UK property is bought, sold or remortgaged. Our residential conveyancing team – local experts with in-depth knowledge of the Brighton and Hove property market – ensures a smooth process by understanding the local issues faced by clients during the move. The conveyancing process for each transaction is different, and generally involves liaising between buyers, sellers, mortgage companies, local councils and the Land Registry.
If you are buying property:
We contact the seller’s solicitors to check the title deeds and contract, then conduct a variety of searches depending on the location, check the formal mortgage offer, collect together documents that require signing, organise the handing over the deposit, ensure all monies are in the right accounts, arrange completion of sale, ensure the correct stamp duty is paid, instruct the land registry of the change in ownership, then send the deeds to either the buyer or the mortgage lender.
If you are selling property:
We obtain the title deeds and up-to-date information from the Land Registry, arrange the contracts that outline the sale, liaise with the buyer’s solicitors, find out the balance on your mortgage if necessary, send deeds for signing, arrange for estate agents’ fees to be paid, collect all funds due to the seller, submit statements and send dees and keys to the new owner.
If you are remortgaging:
We obtain the title deeds and up-to-date title copy from Land Registry, deal with any searches, receive mortgage offer, ask you to sign mortgage deed, arrange for the delivery of the new loan, get up-to-date statement from the current lender, run searches at the Land Registry, receive the loan and repay existing mortgage, and register the new mortgage with the Land Registry.
In brief, conveyancing has a number of stages and differs according to the purpose of the transaction, the finances of the buyer/seller/remortgager, the geographical location of the property, and the number of other transactions in the chain.
Talk to your conveyancing solicitor throughout the process and they’ll keep you up to date with this important process.
How long does conveyancing take?
The typical Brighton conveyancing timeline is 8-12 weeks, though this varies depending on property type, chain complexity, and other factors. Conveyancing for leasehold properties in Brighton often takes longer due to additional legal work. Our conveyancing solicitors work efficiently to minimise any delays.
But as there can be a number of transactions going on at the same time, usually with a chain of strangers all buying and selling their homes and getting mortgages in place – the process rarely depends on just one person.
That’s why moving home is a great time to practice calm and patience, as it is out of your control.
Is there a difference between freehold and leasehold conveyancing?
The short answer is yes.
When dealing with leasehold transactions, there are many more things to check during the conveyancing process, including ground rent, service charges, licences under the Lease and leasehold covenants (obligations).
For this reason we charge an additional fee for dealing with leasehold transactions.
What searches does a conveyancer do?
Essential searches for property in Brighton & Hove include:
– Local authority searches (Brighton & Hove City Council)
– Environmental searches
– Water and drainage searches
– Chancel repair liability searches
– Mining searches in relevant areas
– Flood risk assessments (particularly near Brighton seafront)
Conveyancing jargon buster
Residential Conveyancing: The legal process of buying or selling residential property in England and Wales.
Conveyancing solicitor: A legal expert who specialises in conveyancing.
Title deeds: Title Deeds are documents that prove ownership of a property.
Mortgage: A loan used to purchase a property.
Equity: The value of a property minus any outstanding mortgage.
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT): A tax payable on the purchase of a property.
Land Registry: The government agency responsible for registering property ownership.
Why choose Cunningtons in Brighton?
Led by Jason Bradshaw, our residential property team is dedicated to providing expert legal advice and exceptional service. Here are some reasons why you should choose us:
Expertise: Our solicitors have extensive experience in residential conveyancing and property law.
Personal service: We provide a dedicated conveyancing solicitor who will deal with your transaction from start to finish.
Competitive fees: Our fees are transparent and competitive, and we provide a detailed quotation at the start of the process.
Accreditation: We are accredited by the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), ensuring you receive the highest level of service.
Local knowledge: Our solicitors have extensive knowledge of the local market and can provide expert advice on property transactions in Brighton and Hove.
Award-winning service: The Brighton branch of Cunningtons won Conveyancer of the Year in the South East 2024.
How much does residential conveyancing in Brighton cost?
Our Brighton conveyancing quotes provide transparent fixed fees based on your specific property transaction, so they are according to your case. Conveyancing costs typically include legal fees plus disbursements (third-party expenses like searches and Land Registry fees). Request a fixed-fee Brighton conveyancing quote for an exact price, tailored to exactly suit your needs.
What documents do I need to show my solicitor for conveyancing in Brighton and Hove?
To engage Cunningtons Brighton & Hove conveyancing solicitors, you’ll need:
– Photo ID (passport or driving license)
– Proof of address (utility bills, bank statements)
– Property details and purchase price information
– Mortgage offer documentation
– Proof of funds for deposits and fees
– And additional paperwork for leasehold properties
Do you offer commercial conveyancing at your Brighton branch?
Our Brighton office only deals with residential conveyancing matters. If you need help with commercial conveyancing, please contact Nicholas Brothers at our Croydon branch.