Quick answer
As a first-time buyer, your conveyancing solicitor checks the property's legal title, runs the searches, reports to you and your lender, and handles any gifted deposit or Lifetime ISA. We exchange contracts, send the money on completion day and register you as the 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 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
- Make the Lifetime ISA or Help to Buy ISA claim with your provider
- Agree the exchange and completion dates with you
- Send the money to the seller's solicitor, then file the Stamp Duty return and register you at HM Land Registry
Buying for the first time
With no home to sell, you are at the bottom of any chain, which keeps your side simpler. The timing still depends on the seller and anyone above them. A first purchase also comes with new terms and forms, so we explain each one as it comes up and say what we need from you, and by when.
If family is helping with the deposit
The person giving the money usually signs a letter for your lender confirming it is a gift. The money-laundering rules mean we also check their ID and where the money came from. We ask for all of this at the start, so it is ready before exchange.
If you're using a Lifetime ISA or Help to Buy ISA
We deal with your ISA provider so your savings and the government bonus are released for the purchase. If more than one of you holds an account, we claim on each one.
Stamp Duty
In England, first-time buyers may pay less Stamp Duty Land Tax, or none, depending on the price. HMRC's Stamp Duty calculator asks whether you're a first-time buyer. In Wales, Land Transaction Tax applies instead.
Leasehold flats, new builds and shared ownership
These need extra legal work, priced as its own line in your written quote before you instruct us.
What it costs
| Our fees |
Typically £1,010 to £1,910 + VAT (£1,212 to £2,292 including VAT at 20%) For a 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. |
|---|---|
| Third-party costs (disbursements) |
Typically £319 to £341, for one or two people, including VAT where it applies. Covers searches (an estimate; the local council sets the price), bankruptcy and identity checks, Land Registry priority search, source-of-funds check and portal charges. |
| Gifted deposit |
Gifted Deposit Check: £150 + VAT Gifted Deposit Check (from outside the UK): £300 + VAT |
| ISA bonus |
Lifetime ISA: £150 + VAT per account Help to Buy (ISA): £150 + VAT per account |
| Other 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 starts. For example leasehold, shared ownership or a new build. |
Not included: a survey, indemnity premiums, freeholder or managing-agent charges, or lender charges.
Your written quote gives the exact figure before you commit. Our published fee ranges, and what they cover, are on our fees page.
Set by the government, shown separately: Stamp Duty Land Tax and the HM Land Registry fee depend on the price and your circumstances, so they aren't part of our fees. HMRC has a Stamp Duty calculator.
How it works
How long a purchase takes depends on the seller, any 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 the quote and send your ID. We ask the seller's solicitor for the contract pack.
- Checks and searchesTitle, searches, deposit paperwork
We review the contract and title, order searches and raise questions. Your mortgage offer arrives, and we start any gifted deposit or ISA paperwork.
- 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 dayYour first home
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.
Our conveyancing partners
Conveyancing is supervised by Shah Ali, Senior Partner & Founder.
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 first-time buyers ask
Do I need a solicitor as a first-time buyer?
In practice, yes: 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 conveyancing cost for a first-time buyer?
For a standard purchase of a freehold home under £2m with one mortgage, our fees are typically £1,010 to £1,910 + VAT, plus typical disbursements of £319 to £341. A gifted deposit or a Lifetime ISA adds a fixed fee, shown as its own line in your quote. Stamp Duty and the HM Land Registry fee are separate. See our fees page.
Can my parents give me money towards the deposit?
Yes. Your lender will usually want a signed gift letter from them, and we check their ID and where the money came from, as the money-laundering rules require. Our quote includes a Gifted Deposit Check of £150 + VAT, or £300 + VAT when the gift comes from outside the UK.
Do first-time buyers pay Stamp Duty?
In England, first-time buyers may pay less Stamp Duty Land Tax, or none, depending on the price. HMRC's Stamp Duty calculator asks whether you are a first-time buyer. We file the return and pay the tax from funds you provide.
How long does conveyancing take for a first-time buyer?
It depends on the seller, any chain above them, your lender and the searches. We give you an estimate when you instruct us and tell you if anything changes it.
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 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.
Helpful guides
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