Questions About Buying and Selling a Home

Plain-English answers to the questions I am asked most often about buying and selling a home in England, based on official sources such as GOV.UK. Answers last checked on 7 October 2026. This is general information, not legal, tax or mortgage advice.

What are the main stages of buying a home in England?

The main stages of buying a home in England are: prepare your finances, find a home and make an offer, instruct a solicitor or conveyancer, complete searches and checks, exchange contracts, then complete and pay any Stamp Duty.

Timescales vary, and a chain can make them longer. I am always happy to talk the stages through with you. See the GOV.UK buying guide.

What are the main stages of selling a home in England?

The main stages of selling a home in England are: get a valuation and an Energy Performance Certificate, choose an estate agent and a solicitor or conveyancer, agree an offer, answer the buyer’s legal enquiries, exchange contracts, then complete.

Your home is not legally sold until contracts are exchanged. Timescales vary, and a chain can make them longer. I am always happy to talk the stages through with you. See the GOV.UK selling guide.

Is an offer on a home legally binding in England?

No. An offer on a home is not legally binding in England and Wales until contracts are exchanged. If an offer is made ‘subject to contract’, the price can still be negotiated, for example if a survey finds a problem.

Once contracts are exchanged the agreement is legally binding, and pulling out can mean losing your deposit or paying compensation. Ask your solicitor or conveyancer how this applies to you. GOV.UK: making an offer.

What is a mortgage agreement in principle?

A mortgage agreement in principle, also called a mortgage in principle or decision in principle, is a written statement from a lender of how much it might be willing to lend you. It does not guarantee a mortgage offer.

MoneyHelper says it is typically valid for 30 to 90 days and is not a legal requirement before making an offer. Some lenders use a soft credit check, others a hard one. A mortgage adviser can explain. MoneyHelper guide.

How much Stamp Duty will I pay on a home in England?

The current standard Stamp Duty Land Tax rates in England, applying from 1 April 2025, are 0% up to £125,000, 2% on £125,001 to £250,000, 5% on £250,001 to £925,000, 10% on £925,001 to £1.5 million and 12% above that.

Each rate usually applies only to the part of the price in that band. Higher rates apply to additional properties, and first-time buyers may qualify for relief. A solicitor or conveyancer can confirm what applies. GOV.UK rates.

Do first-time buyers pay Stamp Duty?

First-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty Land Tax up to £300,000 and 5% on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000, for purchases of up to £500,000 in England. The relief cannot be claimed above £500,000. These thresholds apply from 1 April 2025.

Everyone buying together must be a first-time buyer, and the property must be intended as your main home. Check eligibility with a solicitor or conveyancer. GOV.UK rates.

Do I need a survey when buying a house?

No. In England and Wales a survey is not a legal requirement when buying, though RICS highly recommends one. RICS Home Survey has three levels: Level 1 (a condition report), Level 2 (more detail and repair ideas) and Level 3 (the most comprehensive).

Levels 1 and 2 suit conventional homes in good or reasonable condition; Level 3 suits large, older, altered or run-down properties. A mortgage valuation is not the same as a survey. RICS survey guide.

What is the difference between a solicitor and a conveyancer?

Both can handle the legal work of buying or selling a home. A solicitor is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority; a licensed conveyancer is a property law specialist regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.

Conveyancing work includes drafting contracts, arranging searches and handling money at completion. Whichever you choose, check they are regulated. GOV.UK conveyancing guide.

What is an EPC and do I need one to sell my home?

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rates a property’s energy efficiency from A (best) to G (worst) and is valid for 10 years. You must have an EPC when selling a property, and must order it before you market the home.

You buy an EPC from an accredited assessor, and you can be fined if you do not get one when needed. The government is reforming EPCs, but existing certificates keep their 10-year validity. GOV.UK EPC guide.

What is the difference between freehold and leasehold?

With freehold you own the house and the land it is built on. With leasehold you own the property only for a fixed period set by a lease, and ownership returns to the landlord (sometimes called the freeholder) when the lease ends.

Leaseholders may also pay ground rent and service charges, depending on the lease. Leases differ, so ask a solicitor or conveyancer to review the lease before you buy. GOV.UK leasehold guide.

What is a conservation area and how does it affect changes to my home?

A conservation area is an area of special architectural or historic interest whose character or appearance it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Some planning freedoms are reduced there, so check with your council before changing the outside of a home.

In a conservation area, side extensions and rear extensions of more than one storey need planning permission, and the council must be told six weeks before work on protected trees. Elmbridge Borough Council publishes a guide to its conservation areas. Elmbridge guide.

How can I see what homes near me have sold for?

Use GOV.UK’s Search sold house prices service, which uses HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. You can search by address to see what a property sold for in England and Wales; the data covers sales registered since January 1995.

The data excludes sales not lodged with HM Land Registry and sales not for value, and the latest two months are incomplete because registration takes time. For price trends, use the UK House Price Index. Search sold house prices.

Rates, rules and timescales change, so check the linked official page and take advice from a solicitor or mortgage adviser about your own situation. If you are thinking of buying or selling in Surrey or South West London, tell me about your plans or call me on 07575 757007.