Do You Need a Declaration of Trust?

A declaration of trust is commonly used to define ownership rights in relation to a property where multiple parties have contributed to the purchase price. It acts a written record of the financial arrangement between the owners, outlining the proportion of the purchase price that each party paid and the conditions of the ongoing ownership. […]

Deed of Trust for Joint Property Owners

Shared ownership of property is becoming more and more common, whether between unmarried couples, friends, siblings, or children with their parents. If you’re buying a property with someone else, a deed of trust is an effective way of proving legal ownership of all parties who have a share of the property.   What is a […]

How Long Does Conveyancing Take with No Chain?

Understanding how long conveyancing will take can help with the overall buying process, such as giving notice on a tenancy or planning renovation work and booking removal services or furniture. If you’ve found the property you want to buy, or have accepted an offer to sell, the likelihood is you will want to get moving […]

How Do Overage Agreements Work?

Overage agreements, or ‘clawbacks’, allow the seller of land to secure additional payments from the buyer after the land has been sold. They are a type of contract used in circumstances where a seller is to be paid additional sums by the buyer if certain events happen within a specified timeframe, such as where it is thought the land […]

Conveyancing Process Steps

Conveyancing is the term used to describe the legal and administrative process of transferring ownership of a property from one party to another. If you’re buying a property, it helps to understand the different stages of the conveyancing process. By knowing what should happen by when, and who is responsible for what, you can do your […]

TA6 Property Information Form: Guide for Homebuyers

Buying a property can be both an exciting and stressful time. As part of the conveyancing process, the Property Information Form can be used to help to expedite the sale, provided this form is completed by the seller promptly and in full. In this guide, we explain what the Property Information Form is, what kind […]

ID1 Form Land Registry (How to Complete it!)

The ID1 form is used to provide evidence of identity to the Land Registry for a private individual in respect of certain property-related applications. The ID1 form is required when making one of the following applications:   a) a transfer of land or a transfer of a mortgage b) an amendment to a deed or […]

Joint Tenancy Agreement: Property Rights of Shared Ownership

If you are thinking about buying a property together with your partner, a relative or even a friend, you will need to understand the basis upon which that property will be jointly owned. The following guide looks at what is meant in law by a joint tenancy agreement in the context of shared ownership property […]

Buying a Leasehold Property (and the Legal Considerations!)

Purchasing a leasehold property can involve a number of risks. Here are some key legal considerations if you are considering buying a leasehold property.   What is a leasehold?   If you buy a leasehold, you will not own the property or the land on which its stands. As a leaseholder, owning the leasehold to […]

Indemnity Insurance to Move House (Do You Really Need it?)

If your house move is at risk of delay or falling through due to a specific legal issue with the property, you might be advised to look at purchasing indemnity insurance. Indemnity insurance provides protection to the buyer and mortgage lender against certain risks, which will allow the transaction to proceed. Claim rates for indemnity […]

Adverse Possession (and How to Claim it!)

Adverse possession allows an individual (‘squatter’) to acquire valid freehold title to a specific piece of land when they have been in continuous occupation and had exclusive possession of the land over a specified number of years. Adverse possession is often referred to as ‘squatters’ rights’. In the context of adverse possession, the term ‘squatter’ […]

Exchange of contracts (What’s Involved?)

When buying or selling a property, the stage of the conveyancing process that makes the agreement legally binding is known as ‘exchange of contracts’. Up until the point that contracts are exchanged, neither the vendor nor buyer are legally required to see the transaction through as they are not deemed to have formally accepted the […]

How Long Does Conveyancing Take?

The residential conveyancing process can take anywhere from 6 weeks up to 6 months from start to finish. It can be difficult for a solicitor to advise exactly how long conveyancing will take since every transaction is different to the next. While they may provide indication based on their experience and your circumstances, this will […]

What is Freehold Property?

In England and Wales, there are two main categories of property ownership: freehold and leasehold. Your legal rights and responsibilities over the property and its land are determined by whether you own the leasehold or freehold. In addition to this, there are further rights and restrictions in relation to freehold property depending on the type […]

How Long to Move House? (The conveyancing process in action)

There is no definitive time frame to how long it takes to move house, as unexpected complications could arise during the conveyancing cycle and it’s also dependant on the number of vendors and buyers in the chain. At the point of an offer being accepted on the property you are buying / selling and obtaining […]

House Completion (the Final Stage in Buying a House!)

Buying a house can take anywhere from 4 weeks up to 4 months depending on any unexpected discrepancies which may arise during the conveyancing process, as well as issues which may crop up from additional buyers and sellers, if there is a lengthy chain. Though for cash buyers and where there is a short chain, […]

Beware Chancel Repair Liability When Buying a House?

If you are buying a property (flat or house, old or new-build) that is in the boundaries of an Anglican Parish Medieval Church and the Church was built prior to 1536 then you may be subject to Chancel Repair Liability. This means that the Church could enforce the homeowner to pay for the full amount […]

What is Transfer of Equity?

A Transfer of Equity refers to the process by which one or more people are added or removed from ownership of a property and one of the original owners remains on the legal title after the Transfer of Equity is completed. Below we examine the meaning of ‘equity’, the circumstances in which you might want […]

What are Tenants in Common?

If you are looking to buy property with your partner, a relative or friend, or perhaps you have jointly inherited a property, there are two different types of property ownership options: ‘tenants in common’ or ‘joint tenants’. The type of ownership you register with HM Land Registry will affect how you legally own the property […]

What is a Compulsory Purchase Order?

Discovering that the property you own or occupy may be compulsorily acquired can be very distressing, particularly if you are unaware of where you stand legally. Below we examine in more detail the question of ‘what is a compulsory purchase order?’, including your rights as an owner and what an authorised body is required to […]