Conveyancing is the legal process involved in transferring a property from the seller to the buyer. It includes reviewing the title, carrying out searches, raising enquiries, reviewing the contract, dealing with the legal requirements of the purchase and completing the transaction.

You will need a legal professional, such as a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, to handle the legal work involved in a property purchase. Your legal representative can carry out the necessary legal checks, review the title and searches, deal with enquiries and complete the legal transfer of ownership.

It is generally advisable to instruct your solicitor as soon as your offer has been accepted. Starting the legal process early can allow the necessary searches, title review and enquiries to begin promptly and may help avoid unnecessary delays.

An accepted offer is generally not legally binding until contracts have been exchanged. This means that important legal work should still be completed before exchange, including searches, enquiries and review of the contract.

The searches required will depend on the property and its circumstances. Common searches can include:

• Local authority searches

• Water and drainage searches

• Environmental searches

  Additional searches may be appropriate depending on the location and circumstances of the property.

Your solicitor may review matters including the property’s title, ownership, rights, restrictions, covenants, planning information, searches, contract documentation and other relevant legal issues. The precise checks will depend on the type of property and the circumstances of the purchase.

A freehold purchase generally involves buying the property and the land it stands on. A leasehold purchase involves buying the right to occupy and use the property for the period specified in the lease. Leasehold properties can involve additional matters such as service charges, ground rent, lease restrictions and the remaining length of the lease. Your solicitor can explain the relevant terms and advise you on legal issues identified during the purchase.

Yes. Many property purchases are funded partly or wholly through a mortgage. If you are obtaining a mortgage, your solicitor may need to deal with the lender’s legal requirements as part of the transaction.

Before contracts are exchanged, your solicitor will normally work through the legal aspects of the purchase, including reviewing the contract, title, searches and enquiries. You should also ensure that your mortgage arrangements and finances are in place and that you understand the terms of the transaction before proceeding to exchange.

Exchange of contracts is an important stage in the property purchase. Once contracts are exchanged, the agreement becomes legally binding and the completion date is normally confirmed. If a party withdraws after exchange, there can be financial and legal consequences.

On completion, your solicitor transfers the remaining purchase funds to the seller’s legal representative. Once completion has taken place, ownership passes to you and you can normally collect the keys and move into the property, subject to the agreed arrangements.

Stamp Duty Land Tax may be payable when purchasing a property, depending on factors including the purchase price and your circumstances. The applicable rates and reliefs can change, so you should obtain up-to-date advice based on your individual circumstances.

Yes. MYM Solicitors can assist with the legal aspects of a leasehold purchase. This can include reviewing the lease and relevant leasehold documentation and advising on matters such as service charges, ground rent, restrictions and the remaining term of the lease where applicable.

Yes. Property can be purchased jointly, subject to the relevant legal and financial arrangements. If you are buying with another person, it is important to understand how the property will be held and what rights each owner will have.

If searches, title documents or enquiries identify a potential issue, your solicitor can explain the legal implications and advise you on the options available. Depending on the issue, this may involve further enquiries, additional documentation, indemnity insurance or other appropriate steps.

There is no fixed timeframe for every property purchase. The timescale can depend on factors including the type of property, whether there is a chain, the mortgage process, searches, enquiries and how quickly the parties provide the required information.

Where applicable, the legal process includes registering the change of ownership with HM Land Registry. HM Land Registry maintains records for most registered property and land, including information relating to ownership and title.

Yes. Our property team can communicate with the relevant parties, identify outstanding legal matters and help progress the transaction where possible. The cause of the delay will determine the appropriate action, particularly where other parties in a property chain are involved.

Yes. First-time buyers may have questions about the conveyancing process, contracts, searches, mortgages, deposits, exchange and completion. MYM Solicitors can guide you through the legal aspects of your purchase and explain the documentation and steps involved.

Yes. Our property solicitors can assist with the legal aspects of buying a property, including title checks, searches, enquiries, contract review, exchange and completion. We can provide advice tailored to the circumstances of your purchase and the type of property you are buying.