Buying a property | Winston Solicitors UK

As an approved Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) practice, our high quality and professional conveyancing team are experienced at guiding you through the entire property buying process.

Engaging the right conveyancing team is a crucial part of making sure that the process of buying a property goes smoothly.

House purchase considerations
Typical steps when buying a property
Freehold or leasehold
What to ask your conveyancer
Contact us for help buying your property. Call 0113 320 5000

There are a number of key factors to bear in mind.

  1. Clear communication is key

    At Winston Solicitors, we pride ourselves on ensuring that we keep our clients up to date with timely information as we take them through the property buying process. At every stage of the transaction, we ensure that we clearly explain what is happening and what this means for our clients.

    At the same time, we also encourage all our clients to be as transparent as possible with us about the property buying process from their point of view. This ensures that we have all the relevant facts as we proceed - for example if the purchase depends on a lengthy chain, or if you are not going to be available to make decisions at critical points in the process.
     
  2. Have a clear understanding of costs

    This open communication between client and conveyancing solicitor begins with a clear estimate. This quote should cover all costs and any expenses. At Winston Solicitors, we will always provide you with a fixed priced conveyancing quote, by email, online or telephone. Unless the transaction itself is different from the one quoted for, the price we quote will not change.

    A final word on conveyancing costs. While it always makes sense to ask around for quotes, be aware that quotes that appear cheaper may not include hidden costs, disbursements and VAT.

    Wherever there is any alteration to the quoted price, we will always provide you with a clear explanation for the change. We also provide an additional fees sheet with our client care letter.
     
  3. Have everything you need to proceed

    Some key paperwork – for example a mortgage confirmation - may take longer than have anticipated to come through. With this in mind, we suggest that you ensure that all the relevant paperwork that you require for the conveyancing process is ready before you engage a solicitor.

    This paperwork ranges from basic information such as the contact details of your estate agent, through to key documents relating to the property itself. These might include any building regulations approval notices or building regulations compliance certificates.
Call 0113 320 5000 to contact our conveyancing team

The typical steps to buying a property

Our experienced team are on hand to take you through the entire conveyancing process, from instruction to completion and beyond. However, to give you a quick overview, here is how a typical conveyancing process might proceed with us.

  1. Arrange your mortgage. 
  2. Instruct us to be your conveyancing solicitor.
  3. Make an offer on a property.
  4. Inform us once the offer is accepted.
  5. Confirm we have received a memorandum of sale (MOS).
  6. Provide us with any questions you have about the property.
  7. Set a timeframe and agree a provisional completion date.
  8. We review the draft contract, legal pack and search results. 
  9. Provide us with the final details your mortgage.
  10. We send you a full report covering searches and your mortgage offer, for review.
  11. We send you the final contract and transfer form to read and sign.
  12. You send your deposit to us.
  13. All parties agree a date for completion.
  14. You confirm building insurance.
  15. We exchange contracts.
  16. Completion day.
  17. We arrange any Stamp Duty Land Tax payment, and register you as the new owner with the Land Registry.

Freehold or leasehold?

This is an important distinction that some property buyers sometimes find confusing. The difference between a freehold purchase and a leasehold one has a significant impact on what you are actually buying or selling. Our experienced team are on hand to take you through the entire conveyancing process, from instruction to completion and beyond.

A freehold purchase means that you own the building and the land it is built upon. It is yours until you decide to sell.

Here is how a typical freehold purchase might proceed with us once you have instructed:

  • Reviewing the legal title to the property, raising enquiries and requesting searches.
  • Preparing a full initial report on the legal title and advising you of our initial findings. 
  • Reporting on the results of searches. 
  • Preparing a final property report advising you on our legal enquiries and replies provided. 
  • If you are purchasing with the aid of a Mortgage, making sure we comply with the terms and conditions set out in the offer. 
  • Requesting the full balance required to exchange contracts. 
  • Exchanging contracts. 
  • Finalising completion. 
  • Arranging any Stamp Duty Land Tax payment and the registration of the property into your name.

Please note that, if the property is unregistered on completion, we will submit first registration at the Land Registry (approx. 14-month timescale).

A leasehold purchase means that you only own the building itself (rather than the land it is on). or a specific part of it, such as a flat. In addition, you are only the owner for a set period. We always recommend that our conveyancing clients should check this carefully before going ahead with any property purchase.

With a leasehold purchase, you should be aware that:

  • You own the property, the freeholder/landlord owns the land and building. This is a common form of ownership for apartments.
  • Maintaining the building is the responsibility of the landlord.
  • You pay ground rent and service charge.
  • The Lease is for a specific time period and will detail the terms of ownership.

Here is how a typical leasehold purchase might proceed with us once you have instructed:

  1. Reviewing the legal title to the property.
  2. Reviewing the lease and advising you as to the terms of the lease and ground rent, including any restrictions, regulations or covenants that may impact your intended use of the property.
  3. Reporting on the LPE1 and confirming the level of service charge and ground rent payable.
  4. Raising any legal enquiries and requesting searches.
  5. Preparing a full initial report on the legal title and advising you of our initial findings.
  6. Reporting on the results of searches.
  7. Preparing a final property report advising you on our legal enquiries and replies provided.
  8. If you are purchasing with the aid of a Mortgage, making sure we comply with the terms and conditions set out in the offer.
  9. Requesting the full balance required to exchange contracts.
  10. Exchanging contracts.
  11. Finalising completion.
  12. We arrange any Stamp Duty Land Tax payment and the registration of the property into your name.
  13. Serving the required notices on the Landlord and any Management company following completion.

Please note that on completion you may be required to pay the landlord and any management companies costs for the following:

  • Notice of transfer
  • Notice of charge
  • Deed of covenant
  • Certificate of compliance

Questions to ask your conveyancing solicitor

To help you to choose the right conveyancing solicitor, we recommend that you ask them the following questions:

  • How much will the entire process cost? Are there any hidden fees?
  • When will I be expected to pay?
  • How long will the process take?
  • Who will be my key contact within the team?
  • How will you keep me up to date on progress?
  • What information can I give you now to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible?
  • If the sale does not complete, what will I need to pay?
For a free quote, call our conveyancing team on 0113 320 5000

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