Conveyancing Solicitors in Ludlow.

The first thing we will need to do is to establish your identity and will ask you to provide evidence of this and proof of your address. We will request a form of photographic ID such as a current, signed passport or driving licence and also an official document with your address printed on it such as a bank statement, recent utility bill, council tax bill or mortgage statement.

We will need to confirm how you are going to pay for the property. If you are taking out a mortgage we will ask for a copy of the mortgage offer from your lender or a ‘mortgage in principle’ document. If you are a cash buyer we will ask for bank statements dating back six months.

If you are taking out a mortgage on the property, a survey report will be required by your mortgage lender to confirm the property’s value. We will advise you on the various survey types and will assist if any issues arise at this stage or if any re-negotiation on price is required.

We will obtain and check all the required documentation for the property you are buying, including its contents and information relating to matters such as boundaries, access and parking. We will thoroughly check the accuracy of these documents and, if any issues should occur, will advise you of what to do and will respond to the seller’s lawyer on your behalf.

Local authority searches provide comprehensive information about the property you are buying and its locality. We will carry these out to establish if your property is subject to any restrictions such as whether it is in a conservation area, has a tree protection order placed on it or is in a smoke control zone. Further searches will also identify any planning applications, environmental health issues and proposals for nearby roads and highways that could affect the property. Depending on the requirements for your mortgage, additional searches on water, electricity, gas and telecommunications, for example, may also be carried out.

We will ensure all permissions are in place for any extensions or alterations that have been carried out on the property previously and will check they are in line with current building regulations.

We will thoroughly prepare your contract ready for signing and will then coordinate the exchange of contracts with your seller’s solicitor. Once contracts have been exchanged the sale becomes legally binding.

This is the day when everything is finalised and you can move into your new home. It will take place anywhere between a few days and two weeks after the exchange of contracts, to allow time for the final paperwork to be prepared and completed. We will need to receive your funds for the purchase at least one working day before completion and once these are cleared you can collect the keys and move in. We will register you as the owner of the property with the Land Registry and remove any reference to the previous owner or mortgage.

The market town of Ludlow was once described by the poet John Betjeman as ‘probably the loveliest town in England’ and those lucky enough to live in the area tend to agree.

This historic town is situated on the edge of the Shropshire Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty, and overlooking the River Teme, perfect for peaceful strolls, fishing and wild swimming. There is a bustling and welcoming high street full of great independent shops and cafes while the thriving open air market sells a range of items including fresh produce, cheeses, vintage goods, books and a wide selection of local crafts.

The annual Ludlow Food Festival is a huge event in the town’s calendar each year and has officially put the town on the gastronomic map, attracting thousands of visitors every September.

Ludlow itself dates back to the eleventh century when the building of the castle began. Although it has been extended and altered over the centuries, Ludlow Castle is one of the most impressive examples of medieval architecture in the UK.

The town has a wide appeal for anyone moving to the area and with access to breathtaking countryside, outdoor pursuits and plenty of local amenities including the local cinema and leisure centre, it’s not hard to see why.

Ludlow is popular with families due to the excellent schools in the town. The two primary schools here are Ludlow Primary School and St Laurence C of E Primary School while Ludlow C of E School is the mainstream secondary school for students aged between 11 and 16. Most pupils move on to Ludlow College for sixth form, while Overton House is an independent school for students aged 11 and18 with additional needs.

Ludlow is well-connected by rail with the local train station running regular passenger services to towns and cities including Manchester, Cardiff, Crewe, Chester, Milford Haven and Newport as well as Shrewsbury and Hereford, where there are connections to London and Birmingham.

The nearest airport to Ludlow is Birmingham Airport, which is just over 40 miles away.

Property prices in Ludlow have been rising in the past three months due to increased demand in the area. Home owners are looking to capitalise on the beautiful rural setting, coupled with fantastic family-friendly amenities and events.

The average price for property here is £282, 285, according to figures calculated by Zoopla (October 2020). Apartments are currently selling for an average of £183,099 and you could expect a terraced house to cost you around £219,111 while some of the larger rural properties are upwards of £900,000.

Ludlow is the largest centre for businesses in south Shropshire and is the third largest for employment in the wider county, following only Shrewsbury and Oswestry.

Retail, healthcare and professional services account for more than 40% of all employment in the town while big-name employers such as Tesco, Aldi and road haulage company Lloyds of Ludlow also create many local jobs.

Ludlow is also a hub for a number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) along with a number of independent and family run businesses including local clothing retailer Bodenhams. One of the oldest stores in Britain, Bodenhams has been trading from the same 600 year old timber framed building since 1860.

With more than 500 listed buildings, including some of the most well-preserved medieval and Tudor-style buildings in the country, along with a varied programme of events and festivals, Ludlow is a tourist hotspot, which also positively impacts on the local economy and creates many long-term and seasonal jobs in the town.