"These are a number of considerations that Solicitors must bear in mind during any Gloucester property transaction. With issues like the Severn flood plain and ex-industrial-use land contamination to consider, the value of local expertise can make a major contribution to a fast and stress free move. Our Solicitors' maintain a network of Gloucester contacts.

We have assisted home movers throughout Gloucester, including recent Conveyancing in GL1, GL19, GL2 and GL3.

Fridaysmove offer instant Online Quotes for Conveyancing in Gloucester or can be reached on 0330 660 0286."

Read more on local issues from Gloucester Conveyancing Solicitors:

Searches in the Gloucester region

The initial stage of any Conveyancing transaction is the preparation and agreement of the sale contract. This is drawn up by the sellers’ Solicitor, and then sent to the purchasers’ Solicitors, together with a copy of the registered title (or copies of the old deeds if the title is unregistered) and the property information forms completed by the seller.

Once the buyers’ solicitors are instructed, they will carry out a number of searches which are essential for the clients’ protection. This is where local knowledge of Gloucester is particularly important, both in knowing which authorities to contact, and in interpreting the results.

The main search, usually referred to as the local search, is with Gloucester City Council’s Legal, Democratic and Personnel Services and this is applied for sent electronically to save time. The scope of this search includes planning and highways enquiries, as well as other areas of concern to house buyers, such as whether there are any local land charges registered against the property. These can include grants made to vendors, some of which have to be repaid when the house is sold.

Contact details for the council are Gloucester City Council, Herbert Warehouse, The Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EQ. Tel: 01452 396 396 or out of hours emergencies on: 0845 607 0888

Gloucester Conservation areas:

An historic city, Gloucester has many conservation areas and listed buildings, including around Southgate Street, Eastgate and St Michaels, the Barbican and Gloucester Cathedral Precincts. Although most people are aware that listed buildings are subject to stringent planning control, many are unaware of the restrictions which may apply to property in these designated zones.

Your Gloucester Conveyancing Solicitor will be aware if the property is listed or is in one of Gloucester’s conservation areas, and will check that appropriate consents have been obtained for any existing alterations and other works.

You will be advised of the consequences if the property you are buying is affected. Planning permission may be required for a variety of works that would affect the external appearance of properties in Gloucester conservation areas which would normally be outside the scope of planning control. In particular replacement windows and doors will require consent, and it is likely that the replacements will have to closely match period windows and doors in adjacent properties.

Zones where additional consents for alterations are required, including Worcester Street, London Road, Barton Street, Hucclecote Green, Hempsted, Kingsholm and Denmark Road.

Gloucester Planning and Building Regulations

Even if you are not buying a newly-built home, it is still necessary for your Conveyancing Solicitor to make enquiries about planning matters affecting the property. Planning consents for many houses built in the last ten years, such as on the new development of Coopers Edge on Lobleys Drive, Brockworth, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL3 4DZ, may include planning conditions which will continue to affect owners, so prospective home owners must be advised of these.

Solicitors also have to check if appropriate consents have been obtained for any works carried out on the property, particularly where a house has been extended. Although it is possible to construct an extension within certain limits without planning approval, once a house has been extended then further extensions will often exceed those limits and will thus require consent.

Any new home must be signed off by Gloucester Council’s building control department, but many works carried out to existing property may also require building regulation approval, even if planning consent itself is not needed. One common example of this is the conversion of a loft or garage into a bedroom or other living accommodation.