Buying and selling a home

For some general advice, see the following

Directgov offers a wealth of useful advice on home buying and selling.
The BBC's Homes website provides a home buying checklist, home viewing checklist, selling tips, advice on adding value to your home and money issues, and a moving checklist.
BBC's Watchdog Guide to buying and renting.
Channel 4's Homes looks at how to buy and sell a house including how to do it quickly.

Leasehold

The Leasehold Advisory Service or LEASE is an independent advice agency, funded by Government grant and based in London. It provides free advice to leaseholders, landlords, professional advisers and others on the law affecting residential leasehold property. LEASE provides free advice on:
- Leasehold system
- Services charges
- Right to information
- General Management
- Forfeiture and Possession
- Extending the lease
- Buying the freehold
- Commonhold
The provisions of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 introducing commonhold commenced on 27th September 2004.

Right to buy

The 'Right to Buy' programme is the opportunity for secure tenants of a council or a registered social landlord to purchase their home, at a discount price, providing they can prove a minimum two year tenancy in their main or principle home.

Independent advice on mortgages

There are two ways you can find a mortgage. The first way is to shop around among the different mortgage lenders yourself and see what each has to offer. The second way is to go to a mortgage broker, who can search a big database of lenders to find a suitable loan for you.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders, the trade association for mortgage lenders in the UK, provides a mortgage product factsheet and booklet entitled 'How to buy a home in England and Wales'. See its directory of members and list of links.
The Financial Services Authority is an independent watchdog set up by the government to regulate financial services and protect your rights. It provides online tables comparing similar financial products available from various providers and advice about mortgages.
BBC Homes online mortgage calculator provides .quick and easy way to calculate your monthly mortgage payments
Islamic Institute of Banking and Insurance for a listing of Islamic financial institutions around the world. This includes some of the UK's High Street banks.

Finding an estate agent

The National Association of Estate Agents provides an online search facility to locate member agents in your area (NB Membership of the NAEA is on an individual basis and includes principals, partners and directors of agencies and employees working in agencies.)

Finding a solicitor

Most people will want to hire a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to handle the process of conveyancing as it can be complicated process.

Citizens Advice Bureau's Adviceguide to using a solicitor explains if a solicitor needed, their costs and Complaints about solicitors.
The Law Society provides Solicitors-Online, the place to find law firms in your area that can help with your legal issue.

Getting a survey

It's important to get a surveyor's report about the overall condition of the property you intend to buy. A surveyor is a qualified building inspector who can identify any problems or weaknesses with your prospective purchase.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors publishes an online Directory that can searched to find qualified surveyors in your local area.

Moving

The Britsih Association of Removers provides a search facility for finding member companies in your area that handle domestic moves. It also provides an advice booklet called Your guide to a succesful move .
Royal Mail I am moving - Tell companies and organisations that you're moving. Stop services at your old address. Start them at your new home.

Housing

Who does what

Where to live

Renting and letting

Buying and selling a home

Freedom of information

Top of page