number of bedrooms – consider how many bedrooms you need now and how many you may need in the future. home) survey – an agreed level of service to advise clients on the condition and matters relating to a property. The homebuyer’s survey should not be confused with a mortgage valuation.

When selecting a removals firm you should consider price, quality of service and availability. They will be responsible for all of your possessions. The service charge is paid to the managing agent or landlord towards the costs they incur for the services they provide, like repairs, gardening or cleaning of common areas. It can also include building insurance. Some buyers have a survey carried out as soon as their offer has been accepted, while others wait until their lender carries out their mortgage valuation and confirms the sum they are willing to lend. Bear in mind your surveyor may be busy, so don’t leave it too late. It covers purchasing a property which is currently rented out, but only if you plan to live in it yourself. If you’re looking for more information on buying to let, details are available in government’s How to let guide.If your property is still being built, your developer may give you a date by which the property should be finished. On some occasions this end date may be delayed or brought forward. Make sure you know what will happen in either scenario. If the former, your mortgage offer may need to be refreshed as they usually only last for a limited period. Ombudsmen provide a free and independent advice service for consumers who want to complain about a company. Once the ombudsman has received your complaint, they will investigate the claim on your behalf. HM Land Registry the organisation which registers the ownership of land and property in England and Wales. It is extremely rare for legal representatives to change their bank account. If you are in any doubt, do not transfer any money. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – an Energy Label with a ranking of between A and G that also indicates running costs and suggests suitable improvements which can be made to a property to make it more energy efficient. An EPC must be provided to any potential buyer unless the property is exempt from EPC requirements.

You may be able to claim tax relief for additional household costs if you have to work at home for all or part of the week. Who can claim tax relief You should save the search information you receive in a safe place – it may come in handy for reference if you sell the property in the future, although searches are only valid for a certain number of months and therefore may need to be redone. 15. Your mortgageOnce your offer has been accepted, you need to complete a full mortgage application for the lender you wish to use (this can be either the lender who gave you your initial decision in principle, or another provider). If you buy a leasehold property you may have to pay regular ground rent and service charges to your freeholder. what the property is worth – what have similar properties in the area sold for and how many are on the market at the moment?

Most new build homes have a 10-year warranty for major structural problems and a 2-year warranty for general defects, but this may not cover the whole of the property and any attached land. Make sure you are clear about what is and is not included in the warranty before you put down a deposit. It is intended as a helpful overview of the process; it is not a definitive statement of the law and not all of the steps are mandatory for all cases. If you are thinking of buying a property, you should seek independent financial and legal advice. It may be possible to take out indemnity insurance to protect against issues uncovered by the property searches. Your legal representative will be able to advise you on this option. flat or house – flats are nearly always leasehold, so you will pay a regular service charge and you may have to renew the lease. More information on purchasing a leasehold property can be found in the How to lease guide.A leasehold property means you only own the property for a fixed number of years. You have the right to live in that property, but you will need to follow any rules laid down in the terms of the lease. Flats are often leasehold, but houses can be too.