Buying a house can be a confusing process - there are many legal requirements to be aware of. Make sure you get a reliable property solicitor to help you through the process. We’ve put together a summary of the key stages to help you along.

Key Legal Steps to buying a property

1. Appoint a solicitor. The estate agent will require your property solicitor’s details when your offer is accepted.
2. Provide your proof of identity details to your solicitor
3. Your solicitor will carry out ‘Searches’ on the property to find out if there are future or historic events for the property and immediate area which will affect your decision/right to purchase.
4. A secure mortgage offer is required by your solicitor to continue the purchase.
5. Check property information forms – these are completed by the seller and will detail what is included in the sale amongst other information about the property.
6. Ask your solicitor any questions you have regarding the searches or property information forms.
7. Organise your building insurance for the time of exchange
8. Check and sign contracts to exchange and agree a completion date.
9. Your deposit is transferred to the legal company (if selling and buying this may be taken out of the proceeds of the property sale).
10. Solicitor secures funds from mortgage lender
11. 1.Complete the sale and move in. (Access to the property is granted once the purchase funds have been received and the sale is ‘completed’).
12. 1.Register the transaction with the Land Registry

Once you’ve got the keys, it is your legal responsibility to make sure that either you or your legal representative have completed and filed the Land Tax Form (Stamp Duty) which confirms your property ownership.

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