Buying a house in Leicester: conveyancing

When you buy a home, your conveyancer investigates the legal title, deals with the seller’s conveyancer and your mortgage lender, and makes sure you own the property, and only what you expected, at the end.

What happens, step by step

1. Instruction and ID checks. You’ll sign terms of business, provide ID and evidence of where your deposit is coming from, and usually pay money on account for searches.
2. Contract pack. The seller’s conveyancer sends the draft contract, title documents and the seller’s property information forms.
3. Searches. Your conveyancer orders the local authority search (from Leicester City Council or the relevant district council), drainage and water, environmental and, where relevant, other searches.
4. Enquiries. Your conveyancer raises questions with the seller’s side about anything unclear in the paperwork or searches.
5. Report and mortgage. You get a report on the property, sign the contract and mortgage deed, and your lender’s offer is checked against the title.
6. Exchange. Contracts are exchanged and a completion date is fixed. From this point, pulling out usually costs you your deposit.
7. Completion. Funds are sent to the seller’s conveyancer and you get the keys.
8. After completion. Your conveyancer pays any Stamp Duty Land Tax and registers you as owner at HM Land Registry.

How long it takes

Three to four months from offer to completion is common for a purchase with a mortgage and a chain. Slow searches, leasehold information from managing agents, mortgage delays and chains are the usual causes of delay.

Comparing quotes

SRA-regulated firms must publish price information for residential conveyancing. When comparing, check what’s included: leasehold supplements, new build supplements, acting for your lender, Stamp Duty returns, and bank transfer fees. The cheapest headline quote isn’t always the cheapest final bill. Check your Stamp Duty with the GOV.UK calculator.

Protecting yourself from fraud

Conveyancing is a target for email fraud. Your conveyancer will tell you how they’ll give you their bank details. Never act on an email telling you their details have changed; phone them on a number you already know.

Common questions