New Build Conveyancing Solicitors
Our new build conveyancing solicitors in Bristol and South Gloucestershire have a wealth of experience in helping individuals buy new build properties.
It is really important to instruct a specialist conveyancing solicitor as soon as your property is reserved. Our experienced new build lawyers will talk you through the house buying process and make you aware of the potential pitfalls of buying new build properties off plan.
Buying a new build? Contact our new build solicitors today
If you’re buying a new home, we are here to help. We advise buyers of new builds across the UK from our offices in Bristol and the surrounding area, in Bedminster, Bishopston, Bristol city centre, Kingswood and Thornbury.
To speak to our specialist new build conveyancing solicitors, call us on 0117 325 2929. Alternatively, to get an instant quote free of charge, complete our online form.
Our new build services
New build homes are a great way to get on the property ladder, as well as an attractive choice for existing homeowners.
Our specialist new build solicitors in Bristol and South Gloucestershire are available to advise on any aspect of newly built homes. We can advise you on contract terms for exchange, Land Registry requirements and arrangements for checking new builds prior to completion.
Our new build lawyers will advise you on the process from start to finish, from the moment you complete your reservation form through to your move-in date. You will have a dedicated member of our new build team handling the whole transaction.
We don’t just guide you on the purchase of a new build property. Our solicitors are also able to advise on the following which may be applicable for your new build purchase:
Our new build solicitors also work closely with our residential property team who can help you with numerous other conveyancing transactions, including:
- Remortgages
- The sale of your existing property
What is the process for buying a new build?
Find your perfect new build home
- Contact the development’s site office and calculate how much you can afford, taking into account your deposit, Stamp Duty* and legal fees.
- Find the property you wish to buy and pay the reservation fee; this is around £1,000 or £500 if you’re using Help to Buy.
Get in touch with our new build solicitors
- Instruct us as your solicitors and we will speak with the developer’s solicitor to obtain your property’s contract paperwork.
- Now you’ve paid your reservation fee and we’ve received your contract paperwork, we will begin the legal process of ordering your searches and raising enquiries on the title documents with the developer’s solicitor.
- Finalise your mortgage and Help to Buy (if applicable) with your mortgage broker to avoid the risk of delaying the conveyancing process and potentially missing your exchange deadline.
Exchange contracts
- When purchasing a new build property, you’re often expected to exchange contracts within 28 days. If you’re selecting your home off plan, this may mean committing to the purchase before the property has been built and without actually having seen the home you’re buying.
- Once we’re satisfied with your search results and replies to enquiries, and we’ve received your mortgage offer, we will be in a position to exchange. You will sign the contract and pay your 10% deposit, this is the point that both you and the developer are legally bound to complete.
- Once exchange takes place, a completion date will most likely be given upon notice. This could mean there may be a significant length of time between exchange and completion. We’ll provide you with updates and report to you on the documents. Before we exchange, be 100% sure you still want to go ahead; you can still pull out at this stage but you will forfeit your reservation fee.
Prepare to complete
- Your exchanged contract will either specify an agreed completion date or a notice period (typically 10 working days from when the property is fit for occupation).
- You will need to sign the final documents for completion and transfer any balance due from your deposit and for legal fees and Stamp Duty.
- On the day of completion, funds are transferred and you can collect the keys to your new home. Congratulations! Your solicitor or conveyancer will register the transfer of ownership, meaning you’re now a homeowner!
* You may be exempt from Stamp Duty if you’re a first-time buyer. We can advise you on this.
Get in touch with our new build conveyancing solicitors in Bristol
We work with buyers across the South West from our offices surrounding Bristol and South Gloucestershire. To speak to our specialist new build lawyers, call 0117 325 2929. For an instant quote free of charge, fill out our online form.
What’s the difference between a new build and an existing property?
- New build homes tend to be bought from the developer, whereas existing properties are bought from existing owners.
- The sale chain is much shorter with new build properties as you’re moving into a brand new property that’s never been occupied.
- The benefit of a new build is that they are constructed to 21st century standards, with a 10-year new home warranty. You’re less likely to come across the structural problems you would with an older property.
- New builds can be cheaper to both purchase and run. Government-backed schemes encourage the purchase of new builds and they also tend to be much more energy efficient, meaning your bills will be cheaper.
Blog | Buying a new build property – what you need to know
New build FAQs
Our conveyancing team will request an initial payment on account in order to conduct searches. Once we are then at the point of exchange, we will require your deposit monies.
As soon as a completion date has been fixed, the developer’s solicitors will usually provide us with a completion statement which takes into account service charges, reservation fees paid and any other monies owed under the terms of the contract. Once we have this document we can finalise our completion statement and let you know the balance owed in order to complete. This is usually required 48 hours prior to completion.
At Barcan+Kirby, we have a dedicated New Build conveyancing team. You will be allocated a solicitor who will have control of your file but as a team, we work together in order to ensure deadlines are met. If your allocated team member is unavailable, there will always be someone who will be able to assist you accordingly.
Unfortunately, we do need original signed documents. Please let us know if this is going to be a problem.
This usually starts as soon as the contract papers have been received from the developer’s solicitors. This is why it is so important for you to return the signed documentation, ID and monies on account over to us without delay as, without these documents, we cannot proceed and the clock starts ticking.
No. We will contact the lender in order to obtain the funds. The lender will release the funds directly to us, usually one day before completion.
Exchange means that you are legally committed to buying the property. If you were to withdraw from the property between exchange and completion, you will risk losing your deposit.
Completion is the date in which you legally own the property and can collect the keys (and move in, if you wish).
You will need to ensure you have the balance ready to be transferred to us in time for completion. On the day of completion, we will send the completion monies. As soon as the developer’s solicitors have acknowledged safe receipt, you will be able to collect the keys and legal completion will formally take place.
After completion we will register your ownership at HM Land Registry. With new build properties, Land Registry take a little longer; it can take up to six months in order for the completion of registration to arrive. This is nothing to worry about, as you will still be the legal owner of the property from the date of completion.
Our new build expertise
It’s really important to instruct a specialist property solicitor as soon as your property is reserved. Our experienced new build lawyers will talk you through the house buying process and make you aware of the potential pitfalls of buying new build properties off plan.
Our specialist new build solicitors in Bristol and South Gloucestershire are available to advise on any aspect of new builds. We can advise you on contract terms for exchange, Land Registry requirements and arrangements for checking new builds prior to completion.
We also work closely with our residential property team.
Speak to our new build solicitors in Bristol today
Buying a new build? Our charges are transparent and we outline all fees and disbursements upfront. You’ll therefore understand the full extent of your conveyancing charges from the very start.
For a free quote, call our new build conveyancing solicitors on 0117 325 2929 or complete our online enquiry form.