Search
contact us
contact us

SERVICES
FOR INDIVIDUALS

CONVEYANCING SOLICITORS IN READING & HENLEY

THP Solicitors residential property team, one of the largest and fastest growing in the Thames Valley, is led by Rachel Gaylor and is focused on service, communication and the application of a common-sense approach to getting the job done with as little stress as possible for everyone involved.

The department is made up of experienced Solicitors, Legal Executives, Conveyancers and support staff and we pride ourselves on providing a style of service that is tailored to you, because no two transactions are the same. We act for a wide range of clients from first-time buyers to clients who own portfolios of buy-to-let properties.

The majority of our work comes through recommendations from clients and unpaid referrals from local property agents who recognise the experience and professionalism with which we all deal with matters and the levels of service that we provide. Whilst we always seek to work collaboratively with Estate Agents and other industry professionals, we seek recommendations on our merit, not because anyone is being paid to say we are good. Our fees are transparent and reflect the service we promise. There are no ‘add-ons’ or hidden fees, so no nasty surprises along the way. To view more detail please click here.

We are members of The Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme and are on the panels of all major the lenders.

Rachel Gaylor

Partner & Head of Residential Property

Sales & Purchases

A property purchase is likely to be one of the largest and most important transactions you ever make and we recognise and appreciate the trust you place in us in asking us to assist with this.

We will discuss your aims and objectives at the outset and agree with you how you would best prefer to be communicated with, the frequency that you wish to be updated and any other factors which are important and personal to you. To ensure the smooth progress of a house purchase or sale, our Residential Property team will:

  • give clear, transparent and unambiguous fee quotations
  • guarantee an 8-business hour response to any enquiries by phone or email
  • maintain contact with you at least once a week to give you a progress update
  • communicate with you by whatever means you prefer (phone, email, text, video, in person) and ensure we explain everything clearly
  • make the process as smooth as possible through a responsive and proactive service that gets you where you need to be

The Legal Ombudsman has published guidance for buyers. Whilst this is intended for first-time buyers, we think it includes useful guidance for all prospective purchasers, whether a first-time buyer or not. Please click on the link below to read the guidance.

Legal Ombudsman Guidance

A property purchase is likely to be one of the largest and most important transactions you ever make and we recognise and appreciate the trust you place in us in asking us to assist with this

Transfers of Equity

A transfer of equity is the addition or removal of a person to the deeds of the property. This could be creating a co-owner, taking a name off the lease, or transferring it all together. Example of when you may wish to transfer full ownership to either yourself or the other person could be following a divorce/ separation and the property is transferred from the joint names of the couple to a single person or if you want to give ownership/part-ownership of the property to a child or family member.

If you are looking to add or remove someone to the mortgage, you’ll need to get legal advice as you are changing the ownership of the property.

How we can help
We can transfer your property from sole name to joint ownership, or vice versa, or advise on the options available for co-ownership. We can amend the deeds for you and help draw up paperwork specifying how you will own the property. We can also prepare Trust Deeds to reflect different contributions being made to the purchase price of a property.
If you are looking to add or remove someone to the mortgage, you’ll need to get legal advice as you are changing the ownership of the property.

Remortgages & Refinancing

Remortgaging is when you change the mortgage on your property by moving to a new lender. We have extensive experience working with banks, building societies and other specialist mortgage lenders, so we know how they work. The legal title has to be checked, the leasehold and/or management company information obtained if necessary and searches may also need to be carried out depending on the requirements of the new lender.
How we can help
We can help with re-mortgaging, or re-financing through further advances. We always ensure you’re fully advised on the terms of your obligations to your lender and that we deal with your lenders requirements promptly and efficiently to ensure your remortgage funds are not delayed.
Remortgaging is when you change the mortgage on your property by moving to a new lender.

Equity Releases & Lifetime Mortgages

Equity Release/ Lifetime Mortgages are usually only available to those aged 55 or over, who often find themselves in the situation of being ‘house rich but cash poor’ when their wealth is tied up in their property. Our residential property team is also able to provide legal advice on Drawdown Lifetime Mortgages and Home Reversion Plans.

Equity release is aimed at helping to release some of the cash tied up in your home without the expense and inconvenience of having to sell your house and downsize. The most common type equity release scheme is the lifetime mortgage – you borrow against the value of your main residence (up to 60%) but continue to own the property.

How we can help
If you are planning to release equity from your home by mortgaging your property, we can advise you on the process, the legal implications, your obligation and whether it is right for you, including lifetime interest only mortgages, hybrid lifetime interest only/compound mortgages and conventional lifetime mortgages. We can also assist in buying and selling using equity release to finance a move or transferring an existing scheme to a different property.
Equity release is aimed at helping to release some of the cash tied up in your home without the expense and inconvenience of having to sell your house and downsize

Leasehold Enfranchisement & Extensions

If you own a leasehold property you may need advice regarding leasehold enfranchisement for a lease extension, your rights with regard to acquiring the freehold, or insisting on the right to manage the properties.

Our property teams have the full range of leasehold enfranchisement experience in this field to:

  • obtain lease extensions, either by way of negotiation or by the statutory process
  • exercise the right to manage
  • act for residents in negotiating and collectively buying the freehold of their block of flats
  • advise freeholders in respect of their response to applications for lease extensions, the right to manage and sale of the freehold
  • rights first refusal
How we can help
We have acted in many varied situations for Landlords, groups of tenants on small developments, large groups of tenants on extensive developments and as a result we understand the difficulties that arise in co-ordinating the activities and negotiations. Our expertise is recognised by our membership of ALEP (Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners). Exercising the Right to Manage, the Right to a Lease Extension or the Right to purchase the Freehold is complicated by the number of the people involved because it is not just one party on either side but there is a need to focus and unite the whole group of tenants. Members of our team will meet with residents out of regular office hours at management company meetings or at specially convened residents’ meetings in order to explain the process.
We have acted in many varied leasehold enfranchisement situations for Landlords, groups of tenants on small developments and large groups of tenants on extensive developments.

Ownership & Rights of Way

Sometimes legal issues regarding ownership, boundaries and rights of way come up between property owners, their neighbours and developers.

The most common examples are

  • A right of way – this is a legal right to pass over someone else’s property. There can be public rights of way across footpaths, or rights of way across private land, known as easements. Difficulties tend to arise when there are disagreements about whether a right of way exists, the extent of that right, and the obligations in relation to it.
  • Boundary ownership – it is not unusual for neighbours to have differing ideas about where the boundary between their property lies, especially when fences, walls or hedges are replaced or altered over the passage of time. Problems can also arise where boundaries are not recorded correctly with the Land Registry.
  • Adverse Possession – It is not uncommon for people to use land belonging to their neighbours for a long period of time, either deliberately or unwittingly. If this usage has occurred for approx. 10 or 12 years (depending on the case), then it is possible that they will have acquired title to the land, meaning that they own it in law. It is then possible to make an application to the Land Registry to have the land included within their title deeds.
  • Restrictive Covenants – A restrictive covenant is a promise made by the owner/occupier of a piece of land agreeing not to do something on their land – i.e. it is a restriction on the use of that land in some way. Crucially, restrictive covenants do not just restrict parties who agreed to them in the first place, every subsequent owner/occupier of that land will also be bound if certain criteria are satisfied and it can be legally enforced.
How we can help
If you have a query about any restrictive covenants affecting your property, boundary ownership, or rights-of-way, we can advise you and help you find a solution you’ll be happy with. It is important to seek advice at an early stage as the legal position is often complex and we can carefully review the deeds, relevant title documents photos and plans to ascertain the facts. We understand that issues regarding property can turn expensive and acrimonious disputes, so our property team will to the heart of any problem quickly, alleviate tensions and designing the best possible solution for clients.
If you have a query about any restrictive covenants affecting your property, boundary ownership, or rights-of-way, we can advise you and help you find a solution you’ll be happy with.

Affordable Housing & Shared Ownership

Whether you are looking to purchase, sell, staircase or repay a loan against a property, we have the experience and can help you. With government initiatives regarding affordable housing continually changing, these transactions can be slightly more complicated.

Without experience in dealing with the process and the various government agencies involved, delays can be common and the increased administration can add to the time to transactions.

How we can help

Whilst some law firms have made the decision not to deal with share ownership or first time buyer transactions but we relish the opportunity to guide people through the process, advising on the best ways to proceed and ensuring that everything is dealt with at the correct time to avoid any delays. We are committed to achieving clear communications between us and any Government or Housing Agency.

We relish the opportunity to guide, often a first-time buyer, through the process, ensuring that everything is dealt with at the correct time to avoid any delays.

Retirement Properties

Whilst the nature of the property involved may not differ from a standard sale or purchase, the motivation for the move is often very different. It may be that the property is in a new block with a new lease with all the pressure of deadlines or it may simply be that you are downsizing having lived in the same property for decades.
How we can help
We understand that in either situation this is likely to be the first time you have been through the process for many years and it can be a daunting prospect. With our experience in dealing with these types of transactions, we can guide you through the process smoothly and ease the stress.
We understand that if you have not been through the house moving process for many years and it can be a daunting prospect.

Declaration of Trust/ Co-habitation/ Living Together Agreement

A Declaration of Trust, also known as a ‘Co-habitation’ or ‘Living Together’ Agreement is a document drawn by co-habiting couples that records what they have agreed regarding their financial arrangements, both during their relationship and if they ever separate. This document can be used to confirm both parties intention regarding financial matters and can help alleviate any future disputes or misunderstanding.

Arrangements covered in a Declaration of Trust could include:

  • How much each party contributes financially to household bills, mortgage payments, rent, utilities etc
  • Who owns what regarding expensive assets such as electronics, furniture or cars
  • How joint debts or bank accounts are managed
  • What percentage of a property each person owns should they decide to sell/ buy each other out

Co-habiting couples should also make sure that they have Wills, as if one party dies the surviving co-habitee will not be able to rely on the rules of intestacy to protect them.

If a cohabitating couple separate and property is owned between them, or one party is the sole owner of a property and the other party wants to claim an interest in it, a dispute may arise as to what the respective parties are entitled to. If a dispute escalates and goes to Court, a Declaration of Trust will outline to the Court what the common interest was of the parties at the time the property was acquired, and how that has evolved (if at all) over time.

How we can help
If you need advice about Declaration of Trust, our solicitors have the specialist knowledge to deliver expert advice and help you take the next steps to protect your interests.

news & insights

Our insights into the law in plain English, so you know when it happens, what it means, and how it may affect you.

Residential Property Conveyancing Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive, Henley

If you have residential property experience we would love to hear from you.

Property buyers could save thousands in tax if they complete before SDLT 2025 deadline

The temporary SDLT threshold increase will only remain in place until 31 March 2025

The process landlords must follow to repossess their property using Section 21

A brief guide to the process a landlord must follow to repossess their residential property using Section 21 and an accelerated possession claim.
See all of our news stories

CONTACT OUR FRIENDLY TEAM TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN ASSIST AND A NO-OBLIGATION QUOTE

I would like to be contacted by:
You can change your mind at any time by emailing office@thpsolicitors.co.uk . We will always treat your personal details with the utmost care and in line with our Privacy Policy, which can be viewed here.
We approached the THP following a terrible experience with another firm and were naturally a little apprehensive. From start to finish Michelle was absolutely fantastic....Read More »
2 weeks ago via Google Em Em
We’ve just exchanged on our sale and purchase and could not recommend THP more - Emma Willoughby was absolutely fantastic, the communication was amazing and...Read More »
3 weeks ago via Google Amy S
Emily at THP Solicitors came recommended by our neighbour when we needed to sell our house, as she had been helpful for the neighbour. She...Read More »
3 weeks ago via Google F F
March 2024 Deborah Clark has just completed our new Wills. We are very satisfied with the experience. Everything was explained and clarified, so we were completely...Read More »
a month ago via Google Colin Glenister
Emma Willoughby has been fantastic as our solicitor for our recent move. We never had to chase a thing, she was always totally on top...Read More »
6 months ago via Google Sarah-Jane Thomas
View all our Google Reviews
We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (“SRA”). Our SRA number is 8007346. We are a limited company registered in England and Wales with registered number 15367192.
FOR INDIVIDUALS

FOR BUSINESSES

LINKS
READING OFFICE
9 Chalfont Court
Lower Earley
Reading
Berkshire RG6 5SY
HENLEY, BELL STREET OFFICE
64 Bell Street
Henley on Thames
Oxfordshire RG9 2BN
HENLEY, DUKE STREET OFFICE
2 Duke Street
Henley on Thames
Oxfordshire RG9 1UP

AREAS WE COVER INCLUDE:

© 2024 THP Solicitors Ltd | All Rights Reserved.