Buying & Selling Property in England and Wales: A Brief Introduction and links to our articles
Whether you are buying or selling property in England and Wales, there’s a detailed legal process behind it all.
There’s obviously choosing property, negotiation, securing finance, surveys, and physically moving too, but the legal process keeps it all legitimate and gives you peace of mind throughout the process and into the future.
The legal side of moving typically takes between 8 and 12 weeks, though as almost all property transactions rely on a number of other transactions to come to fruition you can never be sure of timescales. The whole process combines legal requirements, financial arrangements, and practical considerations to ensure the secure transfer of property ownership from seller to buyer.
The journey begins when a seller lists their property and accepts an offer from a buyer – but this is just the start. Both parties then appoint conveyancing solicitors to handle the legal aspects of their transaction. The buyer’s solicitor conducts searches and raises enquiries about the property, while the seller’s solicitor prepares the contract and provides detailed information about the property’s legal status. Meanwhile, the buyer arranges any mortgage they need, as well as property surveys to assess the building’s condition.
The key milestones in the process are finding a property, agreeing a price, exchanging contracts, where both parties make a legally-binding commitment to the sale, moving toward completion – when money is transferred, keys are handed over, and the sale is complete.
Throughout the process, both buyers and sellers need to work closely with their legal representatives and estate agents, while staying prepared for potential delays or complications that may arise from issues such as property chains, results of surveys, or legal issues.
Anything can hold up or speed up the process, though: from last-minute financial issues, breaks in the chain, wrongly-completed forms, to traffic physically holding up removal vans and making it impossible to move on time. Sometimes it seems remarkable that anyone gets to move house on schedule!
Essential Guides for Property Buyers
- Your Complete Guide to Buying Property
- Guide to Remortgaging Your Home
- Understanding the Conveyancing Process
- Essential Property Searches Explained
- Choosing Your Property Lawyer
- Family Home Sales During Separation
- The Property Buying Game
First-Time Buyer’s Resource Hub
- Buying or Renting: Making Your Choice
- Complete First-time Buyer’s Guide
- Leasehold vs Freehold Guide
- Understanding Leasehold Reform
- Introduction to Conveyancing
Property Auctions: Alternative Ways to Buy and Sell
Understanding Mortgages and Property Finances
- Changes to Mortgage Testing
- Understanding the Mortgage Market
- True Costs of Buying Property
- Guide to Conveyancing Fees
Successfully Selling Your Home
Legal Essentials for Property Transactions
- How Property Information Forms Affect Your Purchase
- Conveyancing Solicitors And Estate Agents: Who Does What
- What Happens When Your Completion Is Delayed
- Why Choosing the Right Conveyancer Matters
- Why Land Registry Delays Need Expert Handling
Common Property Ownership Challenges
- Co-ownership Rights Guide
- Ground Rent Issues Explained
- Escalating Maintenance Charges
- Dealing With Your Mortgage During A Divorce?
- Tenant Fees Act 2019: Legal Guidance For Landlords And Tenants
Essential Property Knowledge
Why Choose Cunningtons for Your Property Journey?
Conveyancing in Person at Our Branch Locations
- Braintree Conveyancing Services
- Brighton Conveyancing Solicitors
- Chelmsford Property Team
- Croydon Conveyancing Services
- Hornchurch Property Services
- Solihull Conveyancing Team
- Wickford Property Services
Taking The Next Step
Whether you’re just starting to think about moving home or ready to begin the conveyancing process, we’re here to help.
You can get an instant quote online, speak directly to our conveyancing team at your nearest branch, or request a callback at a time that works for you.