Whether you are buying or renting your first property, your dream retirement cottage or even a large office block, it is essential that you seek legal advice from specialist property solicitors.

There are an increasing number of companies that offer 'cheap property services' which look great at first glance. However, like anything else, you get what you pay for. There could be severe consequences if important things are missed, for example a very restrictive covenant, previous breaches of covenants or even third party interests in the property that affect your ownership.

 The only way to avoid these consequences is to ensure the legal advice is both quality and affordable. We allow you to instantly compare property solicitors by price, quality ratings and distance from your post code. You can also view previous property case examples and the solicitor contacts you directly. Find the right property solicitors for the following areas:

Buying/Selling Property - It is worth bearing in mind that solicitors can complete a conveyancing (definition of the legal process of moving property) transaction both online and offline. We provide you with the choice of which you would prefer. View case studies to see exactly what is included in the solicitor fee and understand what costs you are likely to incur. Whether you are buying or selling a property, you can be sure to find the right property solicitor for your case with us.

Commercial Property - Property for any business is always an extremely valuable asset so you want to make sure it is done right. Whether it is buying/selling assets, property development, planning, environmental issues, finance, investment or property management, we have a large panel of specialist property solicitors ready to help you and your business.

Residential and Commercial Leases - The law affecting flats and leasehold property/offices can appear daunting to many but often it's simply a case of access to the right information to sort out an issue. If you have an issue to do with residential or a commercial lease then make sure you select a solicitor that suits you. All the solicitors on our panel can assist and will help resolve your legal problem.

The Conveyancing Process at a Glance

Generally speaking, there is a three stage process in buying or selling a property:

 Stage One: Before the Exchange of Contracts: Once you have had an offer accepted by the seller or accepted an offer yourself, the draft contract is negotiated. This involves a number of searches and enquiries on the property and may include the formal mortgage offer. This stage is vitally important that the solicitor you have chosen does not make any mistakes or fail to carry out the appropriate searches.

Stage Two: Exchange of Contracts: The exchange of contracts is considered the legally binding stage of a property transaction. The contract is signed and the deposit is handed over. Final searches are made on the property and final accounts are prepared including the mortgage deed.

Stage Three: Completion Providing there are no problems in stage 2, you will then obtain the keys to your new home and pay stamp duty (within 30 days). The transfer is registered at the Land registry who will issue a new Registration Certificate.

Further Information:

What is a Home Information Pack (HIP)? It is now a legal requirement to have a HIP for every property that is up for sale. A HIP provides key information about the property to the buyer which saves both time and money for all parties and reduces the risk of unexpected problems occurring later in the process. A HIP contains both mandatory and optional items, including evidence of title documents, basic searches carried out on the property and the new Property Information Questionnaire. It is now a legal requirement to market a property with a HIP.

What Searches Are Carried Out On a Property? The initial searches that are carried out on a property include a local authority search, environmental search, drainage & waste search, water search and bankruptcy searches.

How Do I Know If The Solicitors Are Good? You can compare property solicitors by price and quality. View case studies provided to see exactly what is included in the fee and also see if the firm has quality ratings so you know the service will be good. A lot of property conveyancing can be done online so don't worry if your preferred solicitor is at the other end of the country, let them contact you and discuss whether you should continue.