Let's get you moved
Buying a home is an exciting milestone, but it can feel overwhelming if you’re not sure where to start. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or moving up the property ladder, understanding the process can make all the difference.
The first step is getting your finances in order. Most buyers will need a deposit, typically around 5-10% of the property price, and a mortgage to cover the rest. Mortgage lenders will assess your income, spending habits and credit history to determine how much you can borrow. It’s also important to budget for additional costs like conveyancing fees, surveys, and, in some cases, Stamp Duty.
Once your finances are in place, it’s time to start house hunting. Consider what matters most to you — location, size, layout and condition. Viewing properties in person and researching the local market will help you make an informed decision.
When you find the right home, you’ll make an offer through the estate agent. If your offer is accepted, that’s where we come in. It’s our job to handle the legal work to transfer ownership.
Becoming a homeowner is a big step, but with the right guidance and support, it doesn’t have to be stressful. If you’re ready to start your journey, we can help you every step of the way.
Understanding Conveyancing
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring homeownership from the seller to the buyer. It ensures everything is in order before you get the keys to your new home. At Cavendish, we’ll handle the legal work, check property details and make sure funds are transferred securely.
What Does a Conveyancer Do?
As conveyancers, our role is to carry out essential legal tasks to ensure a smooth transaction. We conduct property searches to check for potential issues like planning restrictions or flood risks. We review contracts, making sure the terms are fair and everything is in order before you commit. We also manage the transfer of funds, including deposits and mortgage payments — ensuring everything is handled securely on completion day.
How Long Does Conveyancing Take?
The process typically takes between 8 to 12 weeks, although this can vary depending on factors like mortgage approvals, search delays or complications in the property chain. We’ll stay in touch with you throughout. Our mobile app puts your case in the palm of your hand to upload documents, sign paperwork and keep up to date on progress.
How to Choose a Conveyancer
Choosing the right conveyancer can make all the difference. An experienced team with a strong track record in property transactions will help the process run smoothly. We’ve been helping clients navigate the home-moving process for over 40 years. We’re really proud of our 4.8-star Trustpilot rating, which reflects our commitment to providing a seamless and supportive experience.
The Conveyancing Process: 5 Key Steps
Buying a home is exciting, but the legal process can sometimes feel overwhelming.
To make things easier, we’ve broken it down into five simple steps so you know exactly what to expect.
Instructing a Conveyancer
Once your offer is accepted, the first step is to appoint a conveyancer to handle the legal work. We’ll request key documents from the seller’s solicitor and guide you through the initial paperwork.
Conducting Property Searches & Checks
We’ll carry out essential searches to uncover any potential issues with the property, such as local authority restrictions, flood risks or planning concerns. We’ll also review the contract and raise any necessary enquiries with the seller’s solicitor.
Reviewing Contracts & Mortgage Offer
Once the searches are complete and all enquiries are answered, we’ll review the final contract with you. If you’re taking out a mortgage, we’ll also ensure the lender’s requirements are met before you proceed.
Exchange of Contracts
When both parties are satisfied, you’ll sign the contract and the exchange of contracts will take place. At this point, the transaction becomes legally binding, and a completion date is agreed upon. You will also need to pay your deposit.
Completion & Moving In
On completion day, we’ll will transfer the remaining funds to the seller’s solicitor, and you’ll officially become the legal owner of the property. Once the transaction is registered with the Land Registry, you can collect your keys and move in!
FAQs
We’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions our customers ask. If you don’t see your question listed, feel free to contact us — we’re always happy to help.
Take a look at your welcome pack — their telephone number and email address will be in there!
You can check in on progress through the Case Tracker. All you need is your case reference and property postcode.
- Download the App: If you’ve chosen to opt-in to the app, head to your device’s app store (compatible with phones, tablets, and iPads) and download the Cavendish app.
- Cavendish Legal – Apps on Google Play OR Cavendish Legal on the App Store.
- Sign In: You can use your email to sign in. Check your inbox (including junk/spam folders) for a verification link!
- Set a Password: Create a password with at least 12 characters, including a capital letter, lowercase letter, number and special character.
- Access Your Info: After setting your password, you’ll be able to access your Welcome Pack, documents and To-Do List.
- Need some extra help? Just email us at onboarding@onpgroup.co.uk.
To comply with anti-money laundering regulations, we need proof of the source of any funds used for your property transaction. Please complete the source of funds questionnaire, which helps us determine the specific evidence required. The needed evidence may vary by case, as we have to verify the origin of the funds to proceed. We also need a complete audit trail on the funds — this can often involve seeing other accounts the funds have passed through.
We don’t accept funds originating from countries identified by the UK or EU as high-risk third countries. A list of countries can be found here — we currently include Russia, Belarus, China and Nigeria on this list. If we’re unable to obtain enough evidence to identify the origin of the source of funds, we won’t be able to accept this. We also don’t accept cryptocurrency. If you have any concerns about where your money is coming from then please speak to your property lawyer.
Please use these government websites for England and Wales to check potential tax liabilities. We can’t offer tax advice — you should consult a qualified tax advisor or HMRC for assistance. Additional fees may apply if a tax submission is required.
We require the following documents to meet UK Money Laundering Regulations:
- One proof of identity – either a valid passport or valid photocard UK driving licence.
- One proof of address (dated within the last three months) – either a utility bill, council tax bill, or bank statement
For non-UK residents, we need your photo ID and two proof of address documents, certified by one of the following:
- Notary Public (with notarised seal)
- Overseas lawyer listed on Gov.uk
- British Embassy
- Your own overseas lawyer (with full contact details and website for verification, plus a selfie holding your photo ID)
Once we receive your documents, we’ll perform electronic ID verification. A fee may apply and will be charged upon application completion. If you can’t provide these documents, please get in touch with your property lawyer for help.
You can easily switch between properties on the app by clicking the tab located at the top left-hand corner of the app.
Usually, this document must be signed by you and witnessed by an independent person over 17, who is neither a family member nor a resident of the property. Some lenders that will require this is signed in the presence of a solicitor or conveyancer.
Please then send a scanned copy of the signed document to us, so we can check it has been signed correctly before you spend money on postage. Once it’s been checked, we’ll require you to return the original signed deed to us by post at Cavendish Legal Group, PO Box 950, Stockport, SK1 9EL. Please ensure the document is not dated.