Buying a home is one of the biggest transactions most people make, but the legal process follows a clear path. Here is what to expect once your offer has been accepted.
Instructing a conveyancer
As soon as your offer is accepted, the estate agent will ask for your conveyancer’s details. We send you a fixed-fee quote and complete secure digital identity checks. You will also need to show where your deposit and purchase money are coming from, which is a legal requirement for every purchase.
The draft contract and title
The seller’s conveyancer sends a contract pack: the draft contract, the title to the property and forms the seller completes about the property, such as boundaries, disputes, guarantees and what is included in the sale. We review everything and raise enquiries about anything unclear.
Searches
We order searches straight away. A local authority search shows planning history, road schemes and other matters registered against the property. Drainage and water searches confirm connections to the public sewer and water supply, and an environmental search looks at risks such as flooding and contaminated land. Other searches may be needed depending on where the property is.
Your mortgage offer
If you are buying with a mortgage, your lender sends us a copy of the offer. In most cases we act for your lender too, so we check that the property meets its requirements before you commit.
Your report and signing
When the enquiries are answered and the searches are back, we send you a plain-English report on the property and its documents. You sign the contract and the transfer, and send your deposit to us.
Exchange of contracts
On exchange, the contracts become binding and the completion date is fixed. If you pull out after exchange, you are likely to lose your deposit and may face further claims, so we only exchange when you are ready.
Completion and after
On completion day we send the purchase money to the seller’s conveyancer and the keys are released. We then file your Stamp Duty Land Tax return, pay any tax due and register you as the owner at HM Land Registry.
How long it takes
A typical purchase takes from 7 weeks from instruction to completion. Chains, leasehold information and mortgage offers all affect timing, and we keep you updated throughout.
This guide is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Every transaction is different, so please contact us to talk about yours.