Whether you're a layman looking to understand your own transaction or a lawyer needing assistance with a client's conveyancing our step by step sale and purchase guides will lead you through the process while our mini guides will break the whole thing into manageable chunks and give a deep insight into the key issues and stages. Leasehold, freehold, unregistered, registered – we've got it all covered.
Need help with a remortgage or transfer of equity / deed of gift? Our guides will walk you through the process and highlight some of the common pitfalls. Mortgages and transfers can be very simple procedures but complex issues can sometimes arise and mistakes are easily made. These guides will help you deal with them.
So you want to have a go at your own conveyancing? First you should read about the risks, then if you're still happy to proceed, our guides will take you through each stage of the process telling you what to look out for and helping you avoid falling into expensive traps. Our subscription service will give you access to all of the documents you should need for your conveyancing and we can even supply you with the Land Registry Official Copies you'll need. Our general guides will cover all the obstacles you are likely to face and offer a practical solution. Have a look at our sale and purchase guides too.
A big part of the conveyancing process is the conveyancing searches. This section tells you all about them. What they are, how and when to order them and how to interpret the results. Each search has its own guide and you'll see they are separated into Standard (should be done in every case), Regional (area specific) and Optional (not essential but often useful tools for the would be purchaser). All buyers should beware that when you buy a property, the law assumes that you have seen the information that would have been revealed by searches whether or not you have actually carried them out, so you buy the property subject to the results.
Using a conveyancer to handle your conveyancing will greatly reduce the risk to you and sometimes, particularly if you are taking out a new mortgage, you will have no choice but to instruct a conveyancer. The good news is it doesn't have to break the bank. Get a free, instant quote here. We can also help with quick easy quotes for other moving related services.
Are you looking for the documents you'll need for your conveyancing transaction? Or official copies of the title or other documents from Land Registry. We can help you. Follow the links below.
Hi,
I currently own a property which isn't and has never been my main residence. It is let to parents, although the initial intention was for me to reside at this property I never have and proof of this can be provided.
I have previously owned a main residence property which I sold in April of this year, and after a period of renting I am looking with my partner to purchase a replacement main residence.
Would I legally be required to pay the additional 3% stamp duty when completing on the new property? And in future when moving from one main residence to another would the additional 3% be payable?
Thank you
This is a bit of a tricky one. On a strict interpretation of the legislation you would pay the 3%. This is because the rules say that you must at no time during the past 3 years have purchased another property with the intention of it being your only or main residence. I suppose the question what was your intention immediately before completion? If you have a buy to let mortgage then this would be compelling evidence that you did not intend to live there. It might be worth writing to HMRC for an opinion as I don't really believe the new regime is intended to trigger the higher rate in a case such as yours but rules are rules. As for future transactions you will not have to pay the higher rate as long as you sell the old residence and go straight to the new one
Ok great, thanks for coming back to me. Will take your advice and write to HMRC