Buying property solicitors

Experienced residential property solicitors offering expert legal support to make buying property seamless and stress-free.

Conveyancing specialists with years of experience on property transactions of all sizes.

Whether you’re buying your first home, moving house, or expanding your property portfolio, the process can be both exciting and stressful. With significant financial and legal implications, it’s essential to have an experienced solicitor by your side to handle every detail.

Our conveyancing experts have guided thousands of clients through their property transactions, from pre-contract to completion, ensuring a seamless experience. We’ve helped buyers with a wide range of properties, including rural and urban homes, leasehold and freehold properties, new builds, and listed buildings.

Our property teams combine technical expertise in all areas of property law with a personal approach
High-quality, cost-effective service to our wide range of UK and international clients

Boyes Turner has the largest property & construction law team in the Thames Valley.
Supported by the wider property teams in commercial, property disputes, construction and land and development specialists.

Our conveyancing Services

Boyes Turner has provided conveyancing services for many years, working with clients across the UK and locally supporting on prime real estate in London, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and the Cotswolds.

Our conveyancing services include:

Selling property

We provide clear advice and help with every aspect of selling your property, from preparing contracts to dealing with enquiries and negotiating the best terms.

Buy to let

Our conveyancing experts provide specialist legal advice on mortgages, landlord obligations, and tenancy matters to ensure a smooth investment on all buy to let properties.

Court of protection

Our court of protection solicitors have decades of experience helping families, case managers and professional deputies make important decisions about their finances, property, health or welfare

High value property

Our specialist high value property lawyers deal with complex or high value residential and commercial properties or land. Usually in prime locations across the UK.

Leasehold & freehold

Our solicitors have extensive experience advising on both leasehold and freehold properties, including lease extensions, disputes, and purchase of freeholds.

Property disputes

If you are involved in a property dispute, such as boundary issues, tenant disputes, or contract breaches, we have vast experience in resolving matters quickly and effectively.

New build

Buying a new build involves more complexity than standard conveyancing, we’re here to guide you through the legal intricacies of new build conveyancing for a smooth and stress-free process.

Shared ownership

We offer tailored legal advice for clients interested in government schemes like Shared Ownership.

Remortgaging

If you are looking to remortgage, we are on hand to help you understand your options and secure you the best possible deal.

Buying property FAQs

Why do I need an experienced solicitor when buying a house?

In England and Wales, the responsibility is on you, the buyer, to ensure that the property is in good condition before purchase as property transactions follow the principle of caveat emptor which means “buyer beware”.

Once you’ve found a property, and agreed on a price, several legal steps must be completed before ownership can be transferred. These include conducting property searches, drafting and reviewing contracts, and ensuring there are no legal issues that could affect your purchase. A conveyancing solicitor will handle these processes, protecting your interests and those of any mortgage lender involved.

What are the costs when buying a house?

When purchasing a property, there are several costs to consider beyond the purchase price. These typically include:

Solicitor’s Fees
Search Fees – (essential property searches, such as local authority, environmental, and water searches)
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Land Registry Fees
Survey Costs
Mortgage Fees

Your conveyancing solicitor will provide a full breakdown of costs upfront, ensuring transparency so you know exactly what to expect.

How much are solicitors fees when buying a house?

The cost of a solicitor when buying a house varies depending on the complexity of the purchase. As every sale is unique, we recommend you get a personalised quote to understand the full costs involved.

Our solicitors’ fees for buying a house typically start from around £1,650 plus VAT for a straightforward purchase. For more complex properties, like large rural homes or listed buildings, fees can go up to around £5,000 plus VAT.

How long does it take to buy a house or property?

It typically takes 8 to 12 weeks to purchase a property, but this can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the transaction, the speed of searches, mortgage approvals, and whether there is a property chain.

Straightforward cases may be completed sooner, while more complex transactions or delays in the chain can extend the timeline.

We know how crucial it is to resolve property matters swiftly, especially when it involves your family home. Our expert conveyancing solicitors work diligently to complete your transaction as quickly as possible and will keep you updated throughout the process.

What Is Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)?

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax payable when purchasing property or land in England over a certain price threshold. The amount you pay depends on the property’s purchase price, whether you’re a first-time buyer, and if the property is residential or non-residential.

How much tax do you pay on buying a house?

Current SDLT Rates for Residential Properties (England & NI):

Up to £250,000 – No SDLT
£250,001 to £925,000 – 5%
£925,001 to £1.5 million – 10%
Over £1.5 million – 12%

First-time buyers: If you’re a first-time buyer, you pay no SDLT on properties up to £300,000 and 5% on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000

Additional property purchases: If you’re buying a second home or a buy-to-let property, an extra 3% surcharge applies on top of the standard rates.

What is the process when buying a house?

Once you’ve had an offer accepted, our conveyancing solicitors will guide you through every step of the buying process. We will handle all legal aspects, including reviewing the contract, conducting property searches, liaising with the seller’s solicitor, and ensuring your mortgage lender’s instructions have been complied with and drawing down your mortgage funds.

We will keep you informed throughout, ensuring all checks are completed thoroughly before contracts are exchanged. On completion day, we will manage the transfer of funds and deliver the good news when you can collect your keys. Our goal is to make the process smooth, efficient, and stress-free from start to finish.

What else should I consider when buying a property?

When buying a property, it is important to consider legal and financial matters beyond the purchase itself. If you are buying with a partner, family member, or friend, a cohabitation agreement can clarify ownership rights and financial responsibilities. Updating or creating a will ensures your property is distributed according to your wishes, while Estate Planning and Trusts can provide asset protection and tax benefits. If you are inheriting a property, understanding probate is essential for managing ownership and tax implications. Additionally, if you are purchasing a home before or after marriage, a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement can help safeguard your assets. Our expert solicitors can assist with all these aspects, ensuring your home and future are legally secure.

Related property services

Commercial property

Our Commercial property team specialises in advising companies that own or occupy commercial property in relation to their land interests.

Construction

We act for a wide range of clients across projects ranging from major urban regeneration schemes through office blocks, shopping centres and hospitality venues to small new build housing developments.

Development & housebuilding

Explore the full range of services available to developers, house builders, land traders, landowners and investors.

Industrial & logistics

Our industrial and logistics specialists combine technical expertise with a pragmatic, commercial and proactive approach, to deliver high-quality, cost-effective, efficient and creative solutions.

Planning & infrastructure

Discover more about our planning and infrastructure expertise.

Plot sales

We handle many hundreds of plot sales transactions each year for commercial and residential property developers.

Property finance

Understand our property finance services for lenders and borrowers. We work with a wide range of lenders such as borrowers banks, other financial institutions and high net worth individuals on a variety of property financing for projects large and small.

Related services

Divorce and separation

Whether you are ending a marriage or civil partnership, we can guide you through the legal process with sensitivity and clarity.

Gifting property to Children or Family

We regularly act for families who are planning for the future and want to transfer their property.

Putting assets into trusts

Trusts are a powerful tool to protect and control wealth for your loved ones’ benefit. Speak to our Private Wealth team.

Unmarried couples and cohabitation agreements

We advise on cohabitation agreements, as well as resolving disputes on relationship breakdown. Our team can guide you on property ownership disputes, financial claims involving children and all the issues you need to consider.