New Build Conveyancing

In the last 10 years alone, we have handled more than 7,000 off-plan transactions across residential and commercial development schemes throughout the north of England and also on a national basis.

New build conveyancing presents its own risks, timelines and technical challenges. Having steered thousands of clients through this process, we bring expert, practical, proactive advice to support your purchase from the very first step to completion and beyond.

• Buying a new build home is exciting — but the legal process behind it can be more complex than a standard property purchase. That’s where we come in.
  
• New build conveyancing is the legal work involved in buying a brand-new property, often directly from a developer. It covers everything from reviewing the developer’s contract and planning documents to making sure warranties, completion dates, and mortgage conditions are all in place.
  
• Because new build purchases can involve staged payments, tight deadlines and extra-legal checks, it’s important to have a specialist team on your side. We’ll guide you through every stage — from reservation to moving in — making sure your interests are protected and nothing gets missed.

Once you've had your offer accepted it's time to instruct our experienced New Build team:

1. Initial instruction & review

Review the developer’s draft contract, check legal pack, raise initial questions, identify red flags, and advise you on risks.

2. Pre-contract enquiries

Investigate planning history, local authority obligations, infrastructure adoption, any outstanding liabilities (S106, CIL), rights of way, easements, drainage.

3. Warranties & insurance

Ensure adequate coverage (NHBC, Buildmark or equivalent), check the terms, exclusions and enforceability of warranty.

4. Lender / mortgage compliance

Liaise with your lender’s legal requirements, coordinate draw schedules and retention (if applicable), and satisfy lender conditions.

5. Deposit protection & client funds

Ensure that your deposit is held safely and in accordance with regulatory requirements; monitor interim payments.

6. Review of service charge and management arrangements

Scrutinise proposed service charges, management company structure, timetables for handover to management, and what you are agreeing to going forward.

7. Snagging and defect risk

Review the snagging regime, engineer’s reports, rectify responsibilities and identify how you can enforce them post-completion.

8. Phased completion / drawdowns

Coordinate phased plot handovers or staged payments, ensuring legal completion aligns with developer milestones.

9. Final completion & handover

Complete title transfer, trigger final payments, ensure warranties are in place, register your title at the Land Registry, and hand over necessary documents.

You will receive a clear transparent quote at the outset, showing what is included (and any foreseeable additional disbursements). We use appropriate project management techniques to keep things on track, and you’ll have a named point of contact who leads the matter. We mirror the client-friendly style that clients already see in our Residential Conveyancing team: clear explanations, no jargon, and prompt responses to your queries. 

• Deep experience & proven track record – 30+ years in new build property work; 7,000+ off-plan matters handled in the past decade.
• Full service and client care – we ensure consistent communication, clarity and responsiveness throughout the transaction.
• Technical strength – our team understands warranties, planning and infrastructure obligations, S106 agreements, leasehold issues, phased development, snagging, and more.
• Lender and developer relationships – we are trusted by major lenders and familiar with standard developer contracts, ensuring smoother collaboration and fewer surprises.
• Risk awareness & mitigation – because we see common pitfalls early, we protect your interests (financial deposit protection, contract scrutiny, defect liability, insolvency risk, etc.).