First Time Buyer Solicitors

A first-time buyer is someone who has never previously owned a residential property. Where there is more than one buyer, every buyer must be a first-time buyer. If any buyer has previously owned a residential property, the purchase will not qualify for this first-time buyer offer. We will confirm eligibility when reviewing your enquiry.

The fixed legal fee covers Wollens’ standard conveyancing work for an eligible first-time buyer purchase. This usually includes reviewing the contract and title, carrying out searches, raising enquiries, reporting to you and your lender, exchanging contracts, completing the purchase and registering your ownership.

Disbursements are costs paid to third parties during your purchase. They are separate from Wollens’ legal fee and may include:

• Property searches
• HM Land Registry fees
• Identity and bankruptcy checks
• Electronic transfer charges
• Leasehold or housing association fees
• Stamp Duty Land Tax, where applicable

Yes. Our Residential Property team regularly advises first-time buyers purchasing leasehold flats. We will review the lease, service charge information, management arrangements and any restrictions or obligations affecting the property.

Yes. We can help first-time buyers purchase new-build properties. New-build transactions often involve additional documents and tighter exchange deadlines, so it is important to instruct a conveyancing solicitor as early as possible.

Shared ownership allows you to purchase a percentage of a property and pay rent on the remaining share, usually to a housing association. The legal work involves reviewing both the purchase documents and the shared ownership lease, together with any housing association and mortgage lender requirements.

Timescales vary depending on the property, mortgage arrangements, searches, legal enquiries and the length of any property chain. New-build and shared ownership purchases may also be subject to specific developer or housing association deadlines. We will keep you updated throughout and explain anything affecting progress.

You should usually instruct a solicitor as soon as your offer has been accepted. For a new-build property, it can be helpful to contact us even earlier because developers may set a short deadline for exchanging contracts.

Property searches and surveys serve different purposes. Searches provide information about matters such as the local authority, drainage and environmental risks. A survey assesses the physical condition of the property. Your mortgage valuation is not the same as an independent survey.

Where Wollens is also approved to act for your lender, we will review the mortgage offer, report on the lender’s requirements and arrange for the mortgage funds to be requested for completion.

Exchange of contracts is the point at which the purchase becomes legally binding. The completion date is agreed, and you will normally be required to pay a deposit. We will explain the contract and obtain your authority before exchange takes place.

On completion day, the purchase funds are sent to the seller’s solicitor. Once completion is confirmed, the estate agent can release the keys and you can move into your first home. We will then deal with the required registration and tax formalities.

Whether Stamp Duty Land Tax is payable depends on the purchase price, the type of transaction and your individual circumstances. Any available first-time buyer relief is subject to the rules in force at the time of your purchase. We will explain the position before completion.

The advertised fixed fees apply to eligible standard transactions. Additional fees may apply where the purchase involves unusual title issues, additional documentation, multiple mortgages, gifted deposits, complex lease arrangements or work outside the standard conveyancing process. Any additional work and costs will be explained before they are incurred.