Quick answer
When you buy a home, a conveyancing solicitor checks the property's legal title, runs the searches, reports to you and your lender, exchanges contracts, sends the money to the seller's solicitor on completion day and registers you as the new owner. You get a written, itemised quote before you instruct us.
On this page
What we do for you
- Check the contract and title the seller's solicitor sends, and raise questions about anything unclear
- Order the searches (local authority, water and drainage, environmental) and explain what they show
- Check your mortgage offer and report to your lender
- Handle your deposit, including a gifted deposit, and the checks your lender and the law need
- Agree the exchange and completion dates with you
- Send the money to the seller's solicitor, then file the Stamp Duty (or Land Transaction Tax) return and register you at HM Land Registry
Buying for the first time
Buying your first home brings a lot of new words and paperwork. We explain each step in plain English and tell you what we need from you and when. If a family member is giving you money towards the deposit, we'll tell you early what your lender needs from them, so it doesn't hold things up later.
What it costs
| Our fees |
£1,010 to £1,910 + VAT
(£1,212 to £2,292 including VAT) Buying a residential property: Standard purchase of a freehold home under £2m, with one mortgage. Includes our legal fee plus Preparation of SDLT forms, Application for Registration, File Opening Fee (Non-refundable), Telegraphic Transfer Fee (Per Transfer), Mortgage Handling/Admin Fee and Lender Portal Management Fee. Your written quote gives the exact figure. |
|---|---|
| VAT | 20% on our fee and on some third-party costs (shown in your quote) |
| Third-party costs (disbursements), e.g. searches and ID checks | Typically £319 to £341 on a purchase, for one or two people, including VAT where it applies, itemised in your quote |
| Extra work, if it applies | Typically £50 to £750 + VAT per item, charged as an additional fixed fee and agreed in writing before the work is carried out. Applies to leasehold, shared ownership, new build, defective title, or bridging, buy-to-let or Sharia-compliant finance. |
Not included: a survey, indemnity premiums, freeholder or managing-agent charges, or lender charges.
Our published fee ranges, and what they cover, are on our fees page.
Set by the government, shown separately: Stamp Duty Land Tax (paid to HMRC) and the HM Land Registry fee depend on the price and your circumstances, so they aren't part of our fee. HMRC has a Stamp Duty calculator. In Wales, Land Transaction Tax applies instead, paid to the Welsh Revenue Authority (LTT calculator).
How it works
How long a purchase takes depends on the seller, the chain, your lender and the searches. We give you an estimate at the start and tell you if anything changes it.
- Getting startedQuote and ID
You accept your quote and send us your ID. We ask the seller's solicitor for the contract pack.
- Checks and searchesTitle, searches, mortgage offer
We review the contract and title, order searches and raise questions. Your mortgage offer arrives.
- Report and signYour report and the contract
We send you a clear report on the property, you sign the contract and transfer your deposit.
- ExchangeThe contract is binding
We exchange contracts with the seller's solicitor and the completion date is fixed. From this point, both sides are legally bound.
- Completion dayThe home is yours
We pay the purchase money to the seller's solicitor and you can collect the keys. Afterwards we file the Stamp Duty (or Land Transaction Tax) return and register you at HM Land Registry.
Who oversees your purchase
What clients say
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4.6 from 249 reviews London office, 6 October 2026
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Regulated by the SRA SRA No. 605949, view our record
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CQS accredited Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme
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 buyers ask
Do I need a solicitor before I buy a house?
In practice you'll want a solicitor or licensed conveyancer. If you have a mortgage, your lender will insist on one from its approved list. It helps to choose one before you make an offer, so the estate agent can send the paperwork straight away.
How much does a solicitor cost when buying a house?
It depends on the price, whether the property is freehold or leasehold, and your mortgage. Our quote shows our fee, VAT and each third-party cost separately, with Stamp Duty and the Land Registry fee shown on their own.
How long does conveyancing take when buying?
It varies with the chain, the lender and the searches. We give you an estimate at the start and tell you if anything changes it.
Can you act for me and my mortgage lender?
We can if your lender has us on its approved list (its panel). One firm then does the legal work for both of you, which usually saves you paying a second firm. We check your lender when we quote.
What's the difference between exchange and completion?
Exchange is when the contract becomes binding and the completion date is set. Completion is the day the purchase money is paid to the seller's solicitor and you can collect the keys.
Can you help if my deposit is a gift from family?
Yes. Most lenders ask for a signed letter from the person giving the money. We'll also need ID and proof of funds from them, which the money-laundering rules require. We tell you exactly what's needed early on.
Where are your offices?
Which number should I call about my purchase?
You can call our London office on 020 7063 9040 or our Leicester office on 0116 393 0334, Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. If you'd rather not call, our online quote gives you a written, itemised figure first.
Do I need a solicitor near the house I am buying?
No. There's no rule that your solicitor must be close to the property. What matters is that they're regulated and, if you have a mortgage, on your lender's panel.
Helpful guides
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