“Despite all the uncertainty in the media about the economy and Brexit, we have seen Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area buck the trend as regards residential property,” says Jennifer Irving, Head of Residential Property at CooperBurnett. “Tunbridge Wells continues to be somewhere people want to move to and that’s often because of how family-friendly the town is and the great schools here, coupled with the fairly straightforward commute into London, plus the countryside on our doorstep and the coast not too far away.”
Jennifer has been with CooperBurnett for nearly 20 years and, in addition to heading up Residential Property, is a member of the firm’s Management Board. She has extensive experience in handling all aspects of residential conveyancing and has built a loyal client base. Jennifer deals with both freehold and leasehold property and advises all manner of clients from first time buyers to investors.
“I think our longevity has helped us to remain positive in the current marketplace,” says Jennifer. “When it comes to property trends, there isn’t much we haven’t seen over the years. We’ve lived through various cycles, such as the increase in the number of flats in the area, changes in planning and in-filling in various local towns locally. We are remaining positive; there is work out there and our team is keeping busy.”
The Residential Property team at CooperBurnett has been a key feature of the firm since it was established nearly 40 years ago and the team has established good relationships with local agents and other professionals, which spread back over many years, all of which put it in an excellent position.
CooperBurnett has always led the way in residential property law and remains proud to be one of the very first firms to have been awarded the Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation by The Law Society. The original accreditation was drafted by the firm’s former Partner and now Consultant, Jonathan Smithers, who went on to be President of The Law Society of England and Wales and is now Chief Executive Officer at The Law Council of Australia.
“I think what sets us apart, in additional to the experience and skill within our team is that we really care,” says Jennifer. “Buying and selling a property can be very intense and stressful, particularly if there’s a long chain involved, so we try to make the process as smooth as possible. Central to this is communication; keeping our clients informed of what’s going on, so they don’t worry unnecessarily.”
Over recent months, CooperBurnett has continued to recruit into its Residential Property team, most recently welcoming Associate Solicitor, Glen Webb, who brings with him a huge amount of knowledge of land law, as well as a particular interest in high value rural property and is skilled in the technical drafting of complex transfer deeds.
Nicola Walsh joined the team just over a year ago and brought with her more than 10 years’ experience in residential property, dealing with all aspects of buying and selling to remortgaging and working with investment clients.
“Our continued recruitment shows that we remain confident in the marketplace; we are proud to be building and investing in our team,” says Jennifer.
Associate Licenced Conveyancer Lisa Connolly joined the Residential Property team in 2015, having worked for solicitors in East Sussex for 10 years. She deals with all aspects of conveyancing, including freehold and leasehold transactions, re-mortgages, lease extensions and transfers of equity.
The team is supported by Partners Jonathan Rowe and Tom Lumsden, along with Associate Solicitor, Charlotte Mackenzie. Jonathan deals with all types of property transactions and issues, including residential sales and purchases, secured lending, leasing and development. Tom advises on issues including rights of way, restrictive covenants, contamination and planning; as well as on all aspects of leasehold enfranchisement.
Hazel Cullen, who has been with CooperBurnett for 32 years, is also an integral part of the team.
The Residential Property team at CooperBurnett is ready to help clients, whether they are a first-time buyer, purchasing an investment property or securing a dream home. It can also offer expert advice for people looking to buy a country estate, as these come with their own particular issues, such as bridleways and the development of outbuildings.
“One of the aspects of my role which I get the greatest pleasure from is the number of clients who return to us,” says Jennifer. “We have supported people through buying their first home, to purchasing a property for a growing family to downsizing in older age.”
To speak with somebody on the Residential Property team, call: 01892 515022 or visit: http://www.cooperburnett.com/residential-property
