First-Time Buyers

Buying your first home, explained in plain English.

Conveyancing is the same legal process whether it's your first purchase or your fifth — but the questions, the jargon, and the Stamp Duty rules are different when you've never done it before. Here's what actually matters.

Get your first-time buyer quote →

Stamp Duty

First-time buyer relief, briefly.

If you (and anyone buying with you) have never owned a residential property anywhere in the world, you may qualify for first-time buyer Stamp Duty Land Tax relief in England and Northern Ireland. As a guide: no SDLT is due up to £300,000 of the purchase price, with a reduced rate on the portion between £300,000 and £500,000. Above £500,000, the relief no longer applies and standard rates are used instead. Our quote calculator applies this automatically once you tell us you're a first-time buyer.

Stamp Duty rules and thresholds can change — this is a general guide, not tax advice specific to your purchase.

What's Different

Four things every first-time buyer asks us.

"What does a conveyancer actually do?"

They handle the legal transfer of ownership: checking the title, raising and answering enquiries, carrying out property searches, liaising with your mortgage lender, and making sure the money and the keys move safely on completion day.

"When do I actually pay anything?"

Getting a quote and asking questions costs nothing and doesn't commit you. Disbursements (searches, ID checks) are usually requested on account once you instruct; our own fee is due on completion.

"What if my mortgage offer changes?"

We liaise directly with your lender's solicitors throughout, so if your offer is amended or a condition is added, it's handled as part of the transaction rather than something you have to chase yourself.

"How long will it actually take?"

A straightforward first-time buyer purchase with no chain above you typically completes in 8–12 weeks, though search turnaround and the rest of the chain both affect this in practice.

More for first-time buyers.

Talk To Us

Questions? A named conveyancer will answer them directly.

Send a few details and a member of our team will get back to you personally, by phone or email. No call centre, no obligation to instruct us.

No obligation to instruct
Answered by a person, not a queue
Your details are never sold or shared

Prefer to call? 020 3627 0986, Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm.