Buying or selling a home can be exciting, but the legal process often brings unfamiliar terms, tight deadlines and difficult decisions. Whether you are trying to understand conveyancing searches, exchange and completion, legal costs or what happens when something goes wrong, clear information can make the process feel far more manageable.
These practical guides explain residential property law and conveyancing in England and Wales in plain English. Choose the stage or issue closest to your situation below.
Buying and selling a home: Start here
Start here for a clear explanation of the conveyancing process, the role of your solicitor and the likely legal costs of buying or selling a home.
- What does a conveyancing solicitor do?
- Residential conveyancing process: A step-by-step guide for buyers and sellers
- Conveyancing fees UK 2026: How much does it cost to buy or sell a home?
- Can a solicitor act for both buyer and seller? The rules explained
- Gazumping and gazundering: Are they illegal in England and Wales?
Checks and risks before exchange
Guidance on the searches, documents and unusual property risks that buyers should investigate before becoming legally committed to the purchase.
- What are conveyancing searches? A complete guide for homebuyers
- Fixtures and fittings: What’s included when buying a house?
- Buying a house with a rentcharge: What buyers need to know
- Chancel repair liability: What homeowners need to know
- Radon Gas UK: Risks, testing and buying a home
Exchange of contracts
Practical guidance on the point at which the sale becomes legally binding, the arrangements that must be in place and the choices available over timing.
- Exchange of contracts: What buyers and sellers need to know
- House insurance on exchange of contracts: A buyer’s guide
- Can you exchange and complete on the same day? A practical guide
- Licence to occupy before completion: Can I move in early?
Completion and moving day
What buyers and sellers need to know about completion day, collecting the keys and dealing with a move that is delayed or does not proceed as planned.
- Completion day in conveyancing: What happens, what time and when do you get the keys?
- Delayed conveyancing completion: What happens and who pays?
Problems discovered after buying
Guidance on problems that may emerge after completion, including inaccurate information provided during the sale and mistakes in the registered title.
- Property misrepresentation claims in England and Wales: What buyers need to know
- Land Registry errors: How to correct mistakes in the register and title plan
Remortgaging and changing ownership
Practical guides to changing the mortgage or legal ownership of a home without going through an ordinary sale and purchase.
- Remortgage conveyancing: The process, costs and how long it takes
- Transfer of equity: The process, costs, tax and mortgages
Planning and restrictions affecting your home
Guidance on planning controls and special restrictions that may affect alterations, outbuildings and ownership of historic properties.
- Planning permission for a fence: The 1-metre and 2-metre rules
- Shed planning permission: The height, size and location rules
- Grade II listed building restrictions: What owners can and cannot change
Leasehold property
Buying or owning a flat or leasehold house? Visit the Residential Leasehold guides for information on lease length, extensions, service charges, buying the freehold and commonhold.
