Guides
UK home buying,
one stage at a time.
Free, plain-English guides for every step of buying a home in the UK — what happens, how long it takes, what it costs, and what to watch out for. Free to read, no lead farm.
Phase 1 · Get ready
Phase 2 · Find your home
Phase 3 · Make it official
Stage 4 — Secure a mortgage offer
Formal underwriting, valuation, and a binding offer letter.
Two to eight weeks
£0–£1,999 arrangement fee + possible booking/valuation feesStage 5 — Kick-start the legal process
Instruct a solicitor or conveyancer to handle the legal side.
Runs 8–12 weeks alongside stages 4–7
£1,000–£2,500 including disbursementsStage 6 — Sort a property survey
Independent check of the property's condition.
Two to four weeks
£400 (snagging) to £1,500 (Level 3 full structural)Stage 7 — Arrange buildings insurance
Set up cover from the moment of exchange — not completion.
Up to a week
Typically £150–£500/yearStage 8 — Get ready to exchange contracts
Final checks, sign the contract, send the deposit.
Two to three weeks
10% deposit (often less if your overall deposit is smaller)
Phase 4 · Get the keys
Stage 9 — Prepare for completion and move in
Final paperwork, money moves, keys handed over.
Two to five weeks (exchange to completion)
Final balance + removals £400–£1,500Stage 10 — Complete the final steps
Stamp Duty, Land Registry, redirect everything.
Instantly to two weeks
Stamp Duty (varies) + £250–£500 Land Registry fee
Deep dives
Longer guides that go deep on the topics buyers ask about most — costs, legal jargon, property types, and the UK timeline.
- Deep dive
The complete UK first-time buyer guide
Everything you need to know about buying your first home in the UK. Mortgages, solicitors, surveys, stamp duty — one plain-English guide for 2026.
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- Deep dive
How much does it cost to buy a house in the UK?
A complete breakdown of the costs involved in buying a home in the UK — mortgage fees, conveyancing, surveys, Stamp Duty, and moving costs for 2026.
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- Deep dive
Leasehold vs freehold: what UK buyers need to know
The difference between leasehold and freehold, why it matters when buying a flat or house in the UK, and the key things to check before you make an offer.
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- Deep dive
What is conveyancing? A UK buyer's plain-English guide
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership. Here's what UK solicitors actually do, how long it takes, and how to choose the right one.
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- Deep dive
How long does buying a house take in the UK?
From mortgage in principle to picking up the keys, here's the realistic UK home buying timeline — phase by phase — and what slows things down.
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- Deep dive
Stamp Duty for first-time buyers, explained
How much Stamp Duty will you pay as a UK first-time buyer in 2026? Current SDLT rates, first-time buyer relief up to £500,000, worked examples, and how Scotland and Wales differ.
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- Deep dive
The Lifetime ISA for first-time buyers
How the Lifetime ISA helps UK first-time buyers: the 25% government bonus, the £4,000 annual limit, the £450,000 property cap, and the withdrawal penalty to avoid.
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- Deep dive
First-time buyer schemes in the UK
The government schemes that can help you onto the ladder in 2026 — Shared Ownership, the First Homes scheme, the Lifetime ISA — plus what happened to Help to Buy.
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- Deep dive
House surveys explained: which type do you actually need?
RICS Level 1, 2 and 3 house surveys explained for UK buyers — what each one covers, what they cost in 2026, and how to choose the right survey for your home.
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- Deep dive
Gifted deposits: how to use family money for your deposit
How gifted deposits work for a UK mortgage in 2026 — the gift letter lenders require, who can gift, the 30-day fund seasoning rule, and the inheritance tax angle.
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- Deep dive
Fixed vs tracker mortgage: which is right for you?
Fixed vs tracker mortgages explained for UK first-time buyers in 2026 — how each works, current rates, early repayment charges, and how to choose with confidence.
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- Deep dive
How to improve your chances of getting a mortgage approved
A practical UK guide for first-time buyers: the steps that actually improve your mortgage approval odds, from your credit file to your deposit and bank statements.
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- Deep dive
Gazumping: what it is, why it's legal, and how to protect yourself
Gazumping is when a seller accepts a higher offer after accepting yours. Learn why it's legal in England and Wales, and 6 practical ways to avoid it.
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- Deep dive
Staircasing your Shared Ownership home: how it works and what it really costs
Staircasing lets you buy bigger shares of your Shared Ownership home. How it works in 2026, the 1% gradual rule, typical costs and the 80% stamp duty trigger.
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- Deep dive
How much deposit do you actually need?
The minimum UK house deposit is 5%, but 10% or more gets you a better rate. Average deposits by region, what each LTV band costs, and how to get there faster.
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- Deep dive
Mortgage broker or straight to the bank?
Should you use a mortgage broker or go direct to your bank? Broker fees in 2026, what whole-of-market really means, and when going direct genuinely makes sense.
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- Deep dive
Property chains, and how to stop one breaking yours
A property chain links buyers and sellers whose moves all depend on each other. How chains work, why they collapse, and how first-time buyers can use their position.
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- Deep dive
Buying in Scotland is a different process — here's how
Scotland's home buying process differs from England: Home Reports, offers over, binding missives and LBTT instead of Stamp Duty. A first-time buyer's guide.
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- Deep dive
Buying a new build: the parts nobody warns you about
Reservation fees, snagging lists, NHBC warranties and mortgage offer expiry. What's different about buying a new build in the UK, and how to protect yourself.
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