Buying your first home is an exciting but often overwhelming process. Our residential conveyancing solicitors are here to help you with buying your first home and making it as stress-free as possible, so you can focus on the exciting parts of buying a house. If you're ready to start the process, you can call us on 0800 012 9085 or use our form .
Our team are nationally recognised solicitors and conveyancers who understand the nuances of buying and selling property, and they're here to guide you throughout the process.
They're experts who understand that buying your first home is a big deal. We'll make sure you get a dedicated conveyancer who handles your purchase from start to finish. Our team are experienced in helping first-time buyers to get on the property ladder.
Please note that, as a law firm offering conveyancing services, we do have referral arrangements with third parties, such as estate agents or housebuilders. We may also receive direct recommendations from them. In these cases, our prices may differ from the price offered directly.
When you get in touch with our conveyancing team, you’ll get everything you need to know as a first-time buyer, including the steps involved in your transaction. You can also visit our first-time buyer guide to learn more.
We're by your side every step of the way. We will explain the legal work we're doing on your behalf, from searches to title deeds, as well as handling the paperwork. Your journey to home ownership is unique, so the advice you’ll get is tailored to you. You’ll always be kept in the loop, so you can make decisions confidently.
Managing your residential conveyancing shouldn't feel like a chore, so we use an online portal to let you access your documents in one place, at a time that suits you. Here's how it works:
Onboarding online takes minutes, but if you need any help or have questions, you can call or email our new business team, who are always happy to help.
Residential conveyancing is the legal process of buying and selling residential property. As your conveyancer, we’ll gather information about the property and make sure it’s right for you. Some of the key steps include:
To learn more about what each step entails, you can look at our first time buyer guide , which explains each step in detail.
At Switalskis, our focus is on making buying your first home simple and stress-free, leaving you confident and ready to move in.
Your residential conveyancing solicitor is your legal advisor. They help you understand your rights and responsibilities, ensuring you're aware of the finer points that could affect your home ownership. They will get everything in order to buy your first home.
Your solicitor will draft contracts and review and prepare several essential documents for buying a home. These may include contracts, fixtures and fittings, Land Registry documents, and other legal papers that are key to ensuring you're legally able to buy the property.
Solicitors conduct property searches to identify any issues that could impact your transaction. These may include Local Authority searches, environmental checks, and reviewing title deeds, so you know there are no issues with your new home.
Your solicitor works with the seller's solicitor, estate agents, mortgage lenders and brokers, and surveyors. They negotiate terms, arrange payments, verify the property and coordinate exchange and completion.
Solicitors also manage the financial aspects of your property transaction. They explain the costs involved, including stamp duties, registration fees and their own fees. They're also responsible for transferring the purchase funds, making sure that money changes hands securely and legally.
When you're happy with the property you're buying, you've agreed the fixtures and fittings and your mortgage is secured, your solicitor will arrange to exchange contracts with your seller's solicitor. This is when your deposit is paid, and you are legally committed to buying the property.
After the exchange of contracts, your completion date will be agreed. This is when you legally own the house and can collect the keys to begin moving in. Your solicitor will then ensure the new ownership details are registered with the Land Registry and pay any Stamp Duty if applicable.
If you're not ready to start the conveyancing process but would like an estimate of the costs, simply visit our fees page for our pricing range.
When you are ready, our new business team are here to help. They will gather details about your property and circumstances to provide you with a tailored quote. You can call them on 0800 012 9085 or use our #form .
The range of pricing information available on our website is for anyone approaching Switalskis directly. It is not for those who are coming to us as a result of a recommendation from a commercial third party, such as an estate agent or housebuilder.
Please note that, as a law firm offering conveyancing services, we do have referral arrangements with third parties, such as estate agents or housebuilders. We may also receive direct recommendations from them. In these cases, our prices may differ from the price offered directly.
To get an idea of how long your house purchase is likely to take, please see our conveyancing timelines page .
The Conveyancing Quality Scheme
Our residential conveyancing solicitors are accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS). It means you can be confident that we have the expertise to advise you and provide excellent service.
The CQS standard requires firms to maintain the highest standards of practice management and provide excellent client care.
The CQS badge of quality is highly regarded by mortgage lenders as well. Many lenders do not deal with solicitors who are not CQS-accredited. Switalskis is on the approved panel of solicitors for all major lenders, meaning you can use our residential conveyancing solicitors no matter which mortgage lender you choose.
If you're planning to buy a home, you should start researching for a specialist conveyancing solicitor you would like to instruct. Once you have placed an offer on a property which has been accepted, you should instruct a solicitor as soon as possible to move forward with the purchase.
The deposit you pay for a property depends on which lender you choose and the mortgages available to you. Some lenders offer a 5% deposit, but the average first-time buyer deposit is 20%. You'll need proof of your deposit ready to start the house-buying process.
As of April 2025, first time buyers in England and Northern Ireland do not have to pay stamp duty on properties up to the value of £300,000.
For properties costing between £300,001 and £500,000, first time buyers would have to pay 5% on that portion. For homes over £500,000, standard rates of stamp duty apply and there is no relief for first time buyers.
Your conveyancing solicitor's fees can vary depending on several factors. At Switalskis, we aim to be transparent about our fees. For more information or to get a tailored quote, view our fees page .
When you're buying a house, your conveyancing solicitor will carry out property searches. These look at factors such as local planning, the property's history, and potential issues, such as flooding or land contamination.
When the deposit money is ready, all checks are complete, and both parties are satisfied, the contracts are exchanged. This is when your conveyancing solicitor exchanges contracts with the seller's solicitor, and the deposit is paid to your lender, making the property purchase legally binding. At this point, you can't back out without financial loss.
Completion is the final stage of the conveyancing process, where ownership of the property is transferred to you. On the day of completion, your solicitor will transfer the purchase funds to the seller's solicitor, and once confirmed, the estate agent will release the keys to you, the buyer.
Switalskis has appointed four solicitors to its residential conveyancing team, including two directors, adding further property expertise to its Wakefield, Bradford, Sheffield and Grimsby offices.
Finding out that conveyancing firm or solicitors you instructed has closed in the middle of buying or selling a property is an additional stress. It can feel like this may be the end of the transaction, but there are steps to protect your position and get back on track.
Sarah Cookson, Director, Solicitor and Head of Residential Conveyancing at Switalskis, has been named Female Trailblazer of the Year at the LEAP Modern Law Conveyancing Awards 2025. The recognition reflects her outstanding leadership, her commitment to innovation, and her influence across the legal sector.
Sarah Cookson, Head of Residential Conveyancing at Switalskis, was recently interviewed by BBC Look North for her professional views into the risks faced by homebuyers purchasing properties off-plan.
Want to know more? Just give us a ring on 0800 012 9085 , or get in touch through our website.
Buying a house can be stressful. But, we're here to make it easy. Your questions will be answered, and we'll explain the process throughout. You'll know what is happening and why.
Buying or selling a home is a big deal. Your conveyancer will listen to what you need, answer your questions and advise you to make sure you get the home you want.
When it comes to property law, you want an expert. We've got decades of experience and plenty of reviews from people we helped get moving.
You need to be comfortable with your choices and your conveyancer will make sure you know your legal responsibilities and any potential risks.