Choosing a solicitor

What do you need solicitors to do when it comes to buying a house?

Buying a home involves a lot of steps and a lot of paperwork. Solicitors play a vital role in helping to smoothen out the home buying process.

They support homebuyers with the following:

Gathering information and running property checks

Your solicitor will collect vital documents related to the property from the seller’s solicitor. They will also conduct several property searches, including a:

• Land Registry Search: This ensures the seller owns the property before any dealings are made.
• Local Authority Search: This checks for planning permissions, restrictions, and nearby infrastructure responsibilities.
• Environmental Search: This identifies potential environmental risks, such as flooding or pollution.
• Water Authority Search: This confirms water infrastructure and public drainage on the property.
• Chancel Repair Search: This inspects whether your property is situated within a parish and identify potential chancel repair costs.
• Location-Specific Searches: This investigates local risks like mining tunnels or unstable ground.

Reviewing contracts and transfer documents

Once your solicitor has received the contract from the seller, they’ll review the terms to ensure they are accurate and legal. You’ll then receive a draft contract to sign and return.

The mortgage deed and the deposit

When your mortgage is confirmed, your solicitor will review the mortgage deed and provide a report. At this stage, you’ll also need to transfer your deposit to your solicitor, which will be used to secure the purchase.

Exchanging contracts and finalising the transaction

On the agreed date, your solicitor will arrange with the seller’s solicitor to exchange the signed contracts. This legally commits both parties to the transaction. After the exchange, your solicitor will transfer the final balance, completing the sale.

Paying stamp duty and land tax

After completion, your solicitor will ensure that stamp duty and land tax are paid, and they will notify the Land Registry of your new ownership.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

We've gathered the most common questions from homebuyers like you, with clear, straightforward answers to help you feel confident every step of the way. Browse our FAQs to filter to the answer that matters most to you.

When do you need to pay the solicitor fees by when buying a house?

Ultimately, the date that your solicitor gets paid is determined by the firm you choose to go with. Some solicitors require a deposit upfront, while others set their payment deadline on the same day as Exchange of Contracts or Completion. Read through the firm’s contract carefully - some solicitors may be more lenient than others if the purchase falls through.

How long do solicitors take when sorting out everything you need, to complete buying on a house?

The process typically takes up to 12 weeks. While individual factors can change the amount of time you wait, your solicitor should inform you of any problems or delays.

How to find a good solicitor for when you’re ready to start the process of buying a house?

If you’re purchasing a property in the UK, the solicitor you’re using needs to be licensed in the UK. The easiest way to find out if your solicitor is registered is by checking the Law Society website. It’s also a good idea to read up on a firm’s reviews before choosing who to go with. The funds required to purchase a house are significant and you need to have 100% confidence in the firm you end up going with.

At Bloor homes, we have a number of independent, trusted and vetted solicitors that we work with who we’d gladly recommend.