Selling a Property

Timescales for completing a sale vary depending on the chain, buyer’s position, and any issues that arise. Buyer mortgage processing, search results, and chain length all affect completion time. Buyers then conduct searches, after which exchange can happen once mortgages are approved. Cash buyers without chains tend to complete faster.

Our legal fees depend on whether the property is freehold or leasehold, plus disbursements for Land Registry copies, money transfers, and other costs. We’ll provide a full quote at the outset, and mortgage redemption fees if applicable. If you’re also buying through us, we offer discounted combined fees. Estate agent fees and Energy Performance Certificate costs are separate. We provide detailed quotes before instruction.

We need proof of identity and address, mortgage and lender details, information about building work or alterations, details of any disputes or issues affecting the property, and copies of planning permissions and building regulations certificates. For leasehold properties, we need service charge information, ground rent details, and management company contacts. We provide a detailed questionnaire; gathering information early prevents delays when buyers raise enquiries.

Before exchange, either party can withdraw without legal penalty. If the buyer withdraws, you’ve lost time but have no legal claim. You keep the property and can accept another offer. You’re liable for legal costs incurred to that point. We’ll keep you informed of costs as your matter progresses. If the buyer withdraws after exchange, they lose their deposit and you can claim additional losses. This rarely happens, as exchange makes the transaction legally binding.

Yes, it’s a legal requirement before marketing your property. The certificate grades energy efficiency from A to G and suggests improvements. EPCs are valid for 10 years, so a recent one can be reused. EPC costs vary depending on property size and provider. Selling without an EPC can result in fines. Estate agents cannot market your property without one. Some mortgage lenders refuse to lend on properties with very low ratings.

Common title issues include missing planning permissions or building regulations certificates, boundary discrepancies, restrictive covenants (legal promises that limit what someone can do with land, a property or a business, for example stopping certain building work or types of trading), or unregistered easements (rights for someone to use part of a property, such as a path or access route, that legally exist but have not been formally recorded on the property’s title documents). We identify issues early and advise on the right solutions. Missing documents can often be covered by indemnity insurance (a policy that covers the buyer against specific legal issues). The cost depends on the nature of the defect. Some issues require Land Registry applications or retrospective permissions. Most issues are resolvable, but early identification prevents delays.

Shared Ownership sales involve additional steps, including notifying your housing association, following any right of first refusal process, and dealing with the lease requirements for the transaction. We handle these alongside the standard conveyancing. Transfers of equity, adding or removing someone from the title without a full sale, are dealt with separately. If you’re changing ownership alongside a mortgage change, we coordinate both transactions together. Contact us to discuss your circumstances.