New Build Conveyancers

Buying a new build property involves more complex checks and conveyancing processes than purchasing an older home. Having a good conveyancer on hand is the difference between moving into your dream home and finding yourself in a property that wasn’t as advertised.

What is a New Build?

New Build properties are homes that have been built brand new, usually on a purpose-built estate. Their construction is managed by housebuilders, from large companies known nationwide, building hundreds of homes on one estate, to smaller, local housebuilders working on a small number of properties. Either way, there are strict guidelines and legislation homebuilders must follow to ensure properties are built to a high standard. Buying a new build comes with a lot of benefits. They tend to have more modern finishes, are energy efficient and have amenities that today’s property owner is unlikely to find in older properties such as solar panels, electric car charges and fast WiFi. But new builds can come with their own issues, and having a proactive conveyancer on your side will be vital to ensure you are protected and get the most of your property purchase.

What do Conveyancers do for New Builds?

Conveyancers who help purchase and sell new builds are required to do more than they would with an older property. It’s recommended you choose an independent coneyancer like Chapter Law, that is separate from the developer, so that you have someone you know is working in your best interest.

Your conveyancer will first ensure that all planning permission for your property has been correctly obtained, and that the property has been built to those exact permissions. Other relevant local searches will be performed too, including ensuring the roads have been properly adopted and drains & utilities are correctly placed and compliant.

Your conveyancer will also inform you whether the property is leasehold or freehold, and any charges or restrictions that come with this. This includes any service charges or estate maintenance fees that are required to keep communal areas or facilities managed and sustained.

In some cases, you may be purchasing a property “off-plan” or before the rest of the estate has been completed, meaning that your completion date can’t be set in stone until the property has been fully developed. Your conveyancer can input a “long stop completion date” to ensure the developer finishes the propery in a given timeframe, usually before your mortgage offer expires.

Importantly, a good conveyancer will highlight restrictive covenants on your new-build property, which can affect things such as property alterations. We’re here to ensure you are fully informed of what to expect with your new build, so that you can move in with confidence.

How long does New Build conveyancing take?

The time it takes for conveyancing to be completed on your New Build will often coincide with how long the property is taking to develop. A property that is fully built and ready to move in can take as little as 1 month for conveyancing to be completed, whereas properties purchased “off-plan” can take up to 12 months, depending on when it is due to be built. Sometimes developers will put a deadline on when completion must be achieved after you have made a reservation; Chapter Law will always strive to hit these deadlines, but if the process does have delays, we will keep you informed and help push back against any pressure-tactics from your developer.

How much does New Build conveyancing cost?

New Build conveyancing costs will depend on the price of your property and what stage of the build process it is in. The best way to know what you might pay is by using our conveyancing fee estimate tool. Remember, Chapter Law work on a fixed fee and no sale, no fee structure, to ensure you’re nmever surprised with extra costs.