Quick answer
Buying a property to let out is a purchase with extra checks: your buy-to-let lender's conditions, and for a flat, whether the lease lets you rent it out. Our fee is our standard purchase fee plus the "Buy to Let" charge of £100 + VAT (£150 + VAT on a new build).
Answer "No, buy-to-let" when our instant quote asks if you will live in the property, and it shows every line, including VAT and third-party costs.
On this page
What we do for you
- Check the title, the searches and the seller's replies, as on any purchase
- Read your buy-to-let mortgage offer and meet the lender's conditions before completion
- For a flat, confirm the lease allows letting and what consent or notice the landlord needs
- Calculate the Stamp Duty from what you tell us, including the higher rates for additional homes, and file the return
- Complete the purchase and register you as the owner at HM Land Registry
- Buying through a limited company? We act on those purchases too: ask for a written quote
What we check on a buy-to-let
Your lender's conditions
A buy-to-let mortgage offer usually has conditions about how the property can be let. We report them to you before exchange, so you know what you are agreeing to. Some lenders also instruct their own solicitor rather than using us.
The lease, if it is a flat
Many leases limit letting or need the landlord's consent first. Some ban short lets. We read the lease and tell you what it allows before you commit.
See our leasehold conveyancing page for the other lease checks, including the years left and the service charge.
The title and searches
We check for restrictions on the title and anything in the searches that affects how the property can be used.
Buying at auction? See auction solicitors for the legal pack checks to do before you bid.
What it costs
| Our legal fee | From our purchase scale, based on the price you pay. Your instant quote shows it. |
|---|---|
| Buy to Let | £100 + VAT, or £150 + VAT on a new build |
| Dealing with your lender's own solicitors | £300 + VAT, only if your lender instructs its own solicitor rather than us |
| Dealing with Leasehold | £150 + VAT, added when the property is leasehold |
| Dealing with Building Safety Act | £500 + VAT, added when the flat is in a building of five or more storeys (or over 11 metres) in England |
| VAT | 20% on our fees and on some third-party costs (shown in your quote) |
| Third-party costs (disbursements) | Listed separately in your quote, for example searches |
Our fee ranges and hourly rates are on our fees page.
Set by the government, shown separately: Stamp Duty Land Tax and the HM Land Registry fee are not part of our fee.
In England, if you will own more than one home after the purchase, the higher rates of Stamp Duty usually apply: 5% on top of the standard rates (GOV.UK, checked 20 October 2026). Whether they apply depends on your circumstances. Wales has its own Land Transaction Tax. This is not tax advice: check GOV.UK or ask a tax adviser.
How long it takes
A buy-to-let purchase typically takes 8 to 10 weeks for a freehold property and 10 to 12 weeks for a leasehold one, from instruction to completion. It depends on the chain, the searches and your lender.
If you need it sooner, our fast-track service typically takes 6 to 8 weeks (freehold) or 8 to 10 weeks (leasehold), depending on the same things. It costs £500 + VAT, paid on completion. If we miss the fast-track timescale, you do not pay the fast-track fee, unless the delay is outside our control, for example caused by the other side, the lender or the chain.
Remortgaging a rental property
A buy-to-let remortgage is priced on our remortgage scale, based on your property and your loan. See our remortgage solicitors page, or get an instant remortgage quote.
Using halal finance? See halal buy-to-let.
Who oversees your matter
What clients say
Where we act
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Leicester office 3rd Floor, St George's House, 6 St George's Way, Leicester LE1 1QZ 0116 393 0334
Conveyancing in Leicester
Questions people ask about buy-to-let conveyancing
How much does buy-to-let conveyancing cost?
Our legal fee comes from our purchase scale, based on the price, and the "Buy to Let" charge is added: £100 + VAT, or £150 + VAT on a new build. If your lender instructs its own solicitor rather than us, "Dealing with your lender's own solicitors" (£300 + VAT) may apply. VAT is added to our fees and third-party costs are listed separately. Your instant quote shows every line.
Why does a buy-to-let purchase cost more in legal fees?
There is more to check. A buy-to-let mortgage comes with its own conditions about letting, and for a flat we have to confirm the lease allows you to let it out. That extra work is what the "Buy to Let" charge covers.
Do I pay more Stamp Duty on a buy-to-let?
Usually, yes. In England, if you will own more than one home after the purchase, the higher rates normally apply: 5% on top of the standard rates, from 31 October 2024. They do not apply to a property under £40,000. Wales has its own Land Transaction Tax. Whether they apply to you depends on your circumstances. We calculate the Stamp Duty from what you tell us and file the return. This is not tax advice: check GOV.UK or ask a tax adviser.
How long does a buy-to-let purchase take?
Typically 8 to 10 weeks for a freehold property and 10 to 12 weeks for a leasehold one, from instruction to completion, depending on the chain, the searches and your lender. Our fast-track service typically takes 6 to 8 weeks (freehold) or 8 to 10 weeks (leasehold), depending on the same things, for £500 + VAT paid on completion. If we miss the fast-track timescale, you do not pay the fast-track fee, unless the delay is outside our control, for example caused by the other side, the lender or the chain.
Can you act on a buy-to-let remortgage?
Yes. A remortgage of a rental property is priced on our remortgage scale, based on your property and your loan. Get an instant remortgage quote to see every line.
What happens if my purchase falls through?
You pay the File Opening Fee (Non-refundable), £100 + VAT, and any third-party costs we have already paid out for you, such as searches. Anything else you have paid us is refunded, or carried over to your next purchase when you find one.
Helpful guides
Found the property you want to let out? Get your itemised quote online, or call either office.