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 2025.
Read the guide →
- 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 2025.
Read the guide →
- 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.
Read the guide →
- 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.
Read the guide →
- 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.
Read the guide →
- 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.
Read the guide →
- 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.
Read the guide →
- 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.
Read the guide →
- 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.
Read the guide →
Use the guides smarter
Want a personalised version of this?
Sign up free and your dashboard will surface the right stage for you — costs scaled to your purchase price, providers near your postcode, and proactive reminders before deadlines.