BLOGS
Writing on moving home, minus the jargon.
How Long Does a Mortgage Offer Last? What Happens If It Expires Before Completion
How long does a mortgage offer last, and what happens if it expires before completion? Here's what to expect and what to do about it.
What Happens on Completion Day? A Straightforward Guide for Buyers and Sellers
Completion day explained plainly for buyers and sellers: fund transfer, keys, timing, and what to do if it runs late.
How Long Does It Take to Sell a House, and How to Avoid the Delays
The real UK average time to sell, and how to avoid the delays that push it further out: title issues, indemnity insurance, and chains.
Buying a new build? What you need to know about conveyancing
New build conveyancing runs to the developer's timetable, not yours. What the exchange deadline means, the costs that only apply to new builds, and the checks a solicitor makes that never come up on an older home.
How To Transfer Property Ownership
Transferring property ownership in England and Wales requires a conveyancer to draft a TR1 form, calculate any Stamp Duty due, and register the change with HM Land Registry.
Right to Buy Conveyancing: Step by Step Guide for Council Tenants
The Right to Buy scheme lets eligible council tenants in England buy their home at a discount. Here is the full conveyancing process, the current regional discount caps, and how to qualify.
Can You Sell A House With Japanese Knotweed?
Yes, you can sell a house with Japanese Knotweed in the UK, but you must disclose it and have a professional treatment plan in place. Here is how the legal and mortgage side works in 2026.
What Is Gazundering?
Gazundering is when a buyer lowers their offer just before exchange of contracts, pressuring the seller to accept the cut or lose the sale. It is legal in England and Wales but avoidable.
Fast Conveyancing UK: How E-Signatures and Online ID Checks Speed Up Property Transactions
Fast conveyancing in the UK now relies on digital tools like e-signatures, online ID checks, and electronic SDLT filing. Here is how these tools shorten the average transaction by two to three weeks.
How Long Does a Remortgage Take in England and Wales?
A remortgage in England and Wales typically takes four to eight weeks. Product transfers with the same lender are fastest at two to four weeks. Here is what affects the timeline.
Land Registry Search: How Long Does It Take
A Land Registry search reveals the registered owner of a property and any charges or restrictions on the title. Official copies are available instantly online for £3 to £7 per document.
What Is Stamp Duty For a Second Home in 2026?
Stamp Duty on a second home in the UK includes a five percent surcharge on every band, in addition to the standard residential rates. Here is how it works and how to claim a refund.
Different Types of Property Surveys in the UK Explained
Property surveys in the UK come in three main types: RICS Level 1 Condition Report, Level 2 HomeBuyer Report, and Level 3 Building Survey. Costs range from £300 to £1,500 depending on the property and survey depth.
Stamp Duty Calculator: A Guide to Stamp Duty Land Tax Payments
A stamp duty calculator helps you estimate how much SDLT you will pay on a property purchase in 2026. Here are the current bands, the first time buyer relief, and worked examples for every common scenario.
How much does conveyancing cost in the UK in 2026?
A clear breakdown of conveyancing fees in the UK in 2026, including legal fees, disbursements, searches, and Stamp Duty. Real figures from regulated panel firms, with every extra listed.
Fixed fee vs hourly conveyancing: which actually costs less?
Fixed fee conveyancing has overtaken hourly billing for most UK residential transactions. Here is why, what it should include, and how to spot a quote that grows after instruction.
Leasehold Conveyancing Checklist
Use this leasehold conveyancing checklist to understand what your solicitor checks before exchange of contracts: lease length, ground rent, service charges, management pack, and major works.
The 2026 conveyancing timeline: how long it really takes
UK conveyancing in 2026 typically takes 10 to 14 weeks from offer accepted to completion. Here is a realistic week by week breakdown, where delays creep in, and how to compress the timeline.
Local conveyancing solicitors near me: do you actually need one?
The case for a local conveyancing solicitor has weakened in 2026. Here is when proximity matters, when it does not, and what to look for in a regulated panel firm regardless of location.
Moving House Checklist UK: The Practical Side of Moving Day
Moving house involves more than the legal work. Use this checklist to organise removals, utilities, address updates, and moving day essentials four to six weeks before completion.
Leasehold vs freehold: every UK buyer’s complete guide
Leasehold and freehold are the two main forms of property ownership in England and Wales. Here is what the difference actually means, what to check before you buy, and how the 2024 reforms changed everything.
Stamp Duty in 2026: thresholds, reliefs, and how to calculate yours
Stamp Duty Land Tax in 2026, including the standard residential bands, first time buyer relief, the additional property surcharge, and how to time your transaction to reduce the bill.
How long does conveyancing actually take?
Typical UK conveyancing takes 8 to 12 weeks from offer accepted to completion. Here's what happens in each week, and where delays tend to creep in.
Conveyancer or solicitor? What’s the difference?
Both can handle a property transaction, but they're regulated differently and offer different levels of service. Here's what it means for you.
First-time buyer SDLT relief: how it works
First-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty on properties up to £300,000, and a reduced rate up to £500,000. Here's what you need to know to qualify.
What is Stamp Duty Land Tax?
SDLT is a government tax on property purchases over £125,000 in England and Northern Ireland. Rates are tiered, here's how to calculate yours.
The first-time buyer’s survival guide
A straight-up checklist of what to have ready, what to ask about, and what usually catches people out on their first property purchase.
Leasehold: five things to check before you buy
Ground rent, service charges, lease length, and the stuff developers quietly bury in the small print. A leasehold checklist from our panel firms.
Selling: getting your side ready before you go on market
The documents your buyer's solicitor will ask for. Get them together before you list and you'll shave up to two weeks off your sale.
Remortgaging: what your solicitor actually does
Remortgage conveyancing is faster and cheaper than a purchase, but still legally important. Here's what the solicitor's role is.
The additional-property SDLT surcharge, how to avoid it accidentally
If you own any other property at the moment of completion, you pay a 5% surcharge on top of your SDLT. Here's how to time it, and when you can claim a refund.