Buyer guides
Which home survey do you need?
A mortgage valuation helps the lender decide whether the property supports the loan. It is different from a survey of its condition. Ask what is included before relying on either.
→What conveyancing searches tell you
A survey checks physical condition; conveyancing searches investigate legal and environmental matters. They answer different questions.
→Buying a leasehold flat: the documents that matter
A lease gives the right to occupy for a stated term. Do not infer its remaining length from the last sale, EPC or how new the building looks.
→Surface water: why a house away from a river can flood
Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage and collect in low spots. Surface water is a separate check from rivers and sea flooding.
→Clay, trees and cracks: what to ask
Some clay-rich ground changes volume as moisture changes. Trees can affect nearby soil moisture. These are reasons to investigate the actual building, not a diagnosis of subsidence.
→Conservation areas and changes to a home
A conservation area protects the character of an area. A listed building is a separate designation. A nearby listed asset does not make this house listed.
→From offer to keys in England
An accepted offer starts the next round of checks. In England, an offer is not legally binding until contracts are exchanged.
→Budget beyond the deposit
The deposit is one part of the budget. Allow for purchase tax, conveyancing and searches, a survey, mortgage-related costs, insurance and moving.
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