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Our team has built a reputation as a leading provider of new build conveyancing as we have been appointed as panel solicitors for the likes of:
Once you have reserved your property (paid your reservation fee and signed the reservation form with the developer) and instructed your solicitor (returned your completed inception form), we will send you some initial paperwork for you to complete and return. This will cover all the information we require surrounding your personal details and source of funds. Once all of this is completed, we can start legal work and begin to progress towards exchange – we would order searches, check through your mortgage offer, prepare your report, post your paperwork and eventually exchange.
At the point of exchange, your file will be passed to our completion and registration teams. These teams arrange setting up anything required for completion and ensure you make it to completion successfully and smoothly. Following this they will ensure any disbursements are paid (the estate agent’s commission invoice for example) and arrange for an application to be lodged at land registry to register you as the new owner of the property.
Generally, a new build specific or recommended solicitor will be familiar with the time frames that are expected by the developer and they will be able to prioritise the work to meet or even surpass the deadlines in question. At Herrington Carmichael, typically your solicitor will have dealt with the site previously which means we can ensure as fast a turn around as possible. Overall, this means the transaction should progress smoothly and efficiently.
Is it beneficial to use the recommended solicitor for my related sale?
It is useful to instruct a recommended or new build solicitor for any related sale as they will be better equipped to deal with the time pressures that come with having a developer at the end of a chain.
This means that we can better prioritise files to fit with the expectations of the chain and keep all parties well informed throughout the entire transaction.
Our New Build Solicitor fees are a fixed rate, meaning the legal fees will not change throughout your transaction. However, should a situation arise where an additional cost is incurred we would discuss this with you accordingly.
Our legal fees should also not be confused with disbursements. Disbursements are third party fees which are out of our control and would be charged regardless of which solicitor you instruct. Disbursements can be subject to change slightly over the course of your transaction but we give our best estimation.
Please note that our fees are heavily discounted for sites upon which the developers recommend us i.e. we are their ‘panel solicitors’. We can do this due to our extensive knowledge of the site, the developer and their legal teams.
A Declaration of Ownership (also known as a “Declaration of Trust”) is a legal document commonly used to set out the interests of individual parties where an asset is held in joint names with others. When a couple, for example, purchase their home, they may decide to put in place a Declaration of Ownership to set out their property interests. They could, for instance, decide that the property should be held equally or specify unequal proportions.
There are a number of benefits to putting in place a Declaration of Ownership. It not only clarifies the way in which the property is to be owned but also confirms the responsibilities of each of the co-owners, thereby avoiding complications from arising in the future.
We were very happy with our service. Being first-time buyers and brand new to the property world, Annari & Mary-Jayne relieved all of our worries and made our journey very stress-free and relatively easy. Thank you.
We received excellent support in reviewing and modifying our Wills to our latest needs. The communication has always been straightforward and very effective and we achieved the objectives we set at the beginning of the process. Strong expertise and legal knowledge have been key to the successful completion.
It was a very straightforward process & Charlotte explained everything clearly to us in a very friendly way & answered any queries we had. It was a pleasure to have her deal with this matter, and I would certainly come to your firm of solicitors on that basis. Thank you so much.
Paul provided calm, helpful, constructive and thorough advice on my matter and I will be in touch again to progress.
Aadil has been representing my son through a very challenging child custody/recovery case. His help and knowledge has been fantastic. He went above and beyond working on his day off too make sure court papers were delivered on time. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Aadil.
I just wanted to write a huge thank you for all your help and support during my recent divorce proceedings There were times when it seemed things would never get resolved but thankfully with your guidance everything went relatively smoothly in the end.
Annari is an excellent Solicitor. We have always used her services for all of our property conveyancing jobs. She is a valuable asset to your company.
We had the pleasure of working with Annari on buying our very first house. We would like to take this opportunity to let you know how efficient Annari was throughout the entire process. Annari really helped to make buying our first home an easy process! She absolutely went above and beyond her call of duty.
The service we received was exceptional. We were always updated and Annari would answer any questions I had immediately. Keep doing what you do Annari. Thank you so much for everything, and Amy too.
Thanks again, we’ve always felt in good hands. It is for this reason we’d highly recommend Herrington Carmichael and especially Annari.
Annari is an excellent Solicitor. We have always used her services for all of our property conveyancing jobs. She is a valuable asset to your company.
We had the pleasure of working with Annari on buying our very first house. We would like to take this opportunity to let you know how efficient Annari was throughout the enitre process. Annari really helped to make buying our first home an easy process! She absolutely went above and beyond her call of duty.
Both Holly Bray & Jessica Brooke were fantastic from start to finish on the purchase of my new build property. Nothing was an issues for them and I didn’t need to chase them for anything at all. I was kept well informed all the way through the process to completion and everything was dealt with in a very pleasant and professional manner. I would happily recommend Herrington Carmichael to anyone looking for a conveyancer for the purchase of their property. 5 stars.
From start to finish Herrington Carmichael staff have been excellent. Communication has been second to none and cannot fault them for everything. Would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable, friendly and very efficient service.
Being first time buyer, Holly was very helpful in explaining the process and expediting all the things. Thank you very much for quick process.
Professional service, nice communication, I would have no hesitation in recommending and will be using them again in the near future.
They were super helpful, very efficient and had timely communication. I would use them again and recommend them to friends and family.
Laura and Amy have both been fantastic throughout the whole process. Both were very patient with any questions we had. Everything was made easy for us, making our first house purchase painless and enjoyable. We will certainly be using your company again. Thank you all so much.
Madelyn was always helpful, kind & supportive throughout.
Madelyn Wellstead is a fantastic Senior Apprentice Solicitor who worked on a family law case involving myself and my son. During her time working on my case she was extremely professional and supportive throughout. My case was a very complex case and had alot of ups and downs but Madelyn at all times kept Me informed and up to date. I would highly recommend her as very competent and very knowledgeable and an over all very nice decent person.
Over the past few months Nicole Miller, a Legal Director in Herrington Carmichael’s Private Wealth and Inheritance Department, has provided outstanding service in creating a trust for our family. From the outset, Nicole was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly reassuring, guiding us through what could have been a complex process with clarity and patience. She took the time to understand our circumstances fully and explained everything in straightforward terms, ensuring we felt confident at every stage.
Nicole’s expertise, attention to detail, and responsive communication gave us complete peace of mind. She handled our matter with both precision and genuine care, making us feel that our family’s interests were truly valued. We are extremely grateful for her support and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking expert and compassionate private wealth advice.
Considering the mess I was in when I first met you, I’ve managed to stay intact and that’s mostly down to your advice keeping me on the straight and narrow. For that I will always be grateful.
I just wanted to write a huge thank you for all your help and support during my recent divorce proceedings. There were times when it seemed things would never get resolved but thankfully with your guidance everything went relatively smoothly in the end.
What a joy to deal with a personable, on the ball and helpful individual! You do your organisation a great service helping clients now during Covid as you are, and I would not think twice about using your services in the future. Thank you for being you and going the extra mile!
Throughout the whole process, Roisin acted quickly on all aspects, was easy to get hold of, responded with pace and communicated fantastically, always finding effective ways to translate complex legal jargon into layman’s terms. Roisin is clearly operates at the top-end of her profession and as such, is someone I would wholeheartedly recommend.
I opted to use Roisin at Herrington-Carmichael to support with my purchase & sale as a result of her personable manner. Roisin made me feel that she had my best interests at heart and that I wouldn’t be just another transaction. Roisin more than lived up to my first impression, in fact I attribute the successful completion of my sale and purchase – which all but fell-through at the eleventh hour – to her tenacity, expertise and willingness to go above and beyond.
It’s been a pleasure working with you on my new venture. Your tenacious professional approach to the task in hand, has been refreshingly inspiring to say the least.
Sarah and her team have made this difficult time much better by the way they dealt with my case. The process was straightforward and i would use Sarah again without hesitation.
Sarah was very thorough, extremely knowledgeable but remained personable throughout making me feel at ease when needed.
Thank you again for all your help with what I have been through over the last year and a half. You gave me the confidence and belief to get through what has been the toughest time in my life. (You’ve got this) Thank you.
I can't thank Aadil and Madelyn enough for what they did for me in such a short space of time. I had previously used Aadil and didn't hesitate to contact him again regarding the issue I had.
Aadil has been representing my son through a very challenging child custody/recovery case. His help and knowledge has been fantastic. He went above and beyond working on his day off to make sure court papers were delivered on time. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Aadil.
I can honestly say that i have never received such good service from a solicitor ( and I’ve bought and sold many houses!!) as I have from Leo. He has been so professional, responsive and pro-active - it has made a huge difference to us during this process. I do hope that you recognise him for such good service and advice. Many thanks to all.
I have had the pleasure of working with Liz on several complex property purchases, including overseas based companies and legal opinions, commercial leases analysis, building contracts assignments and collateral warranties. On each occasion, Liz has acted promptly, kept me appraised of the progress and demonstrated excellent commercial awareness and professionalism in dealing with client’s solicitors, in order to meet tight completion deadlines. I have no hesitation in recommending Liz for all property related legal matters.
I also would like to specifically recognise Rachel Duncan, Partner Real Estate, for her outstanding support. Her expertise in real estate, particularly within the housing sector, has been exceptional. She provided clear, pragmatic advice on a complex matter, helping us navigate potential disputes and avoid unnecessary costs.....Her practical, solution-focused approach, combined with her responsiveness and professionalism, made a significant difference. She is a real asset to the firm.
The property team have been diligent, timely and highly responsive. This has allowed us to focus on our developments knowing that the matter is in capable hands.
I am delighted with the level of service and advice I got from Rachel. I felt in a safe pair of hands which took the stress out of negotiating the lease with our new landlord. It allowed me to focus on the fit out of our larger office.
She has always been extremely knowledgeable and professional, providing fantastic support and skill across all property transactions.
Thanks for all your help with the finalising the renewal lease for our tenant company in Ottershaw. You ensured that the process went smoothly and we were able to discuss various aspects of the renewal and decide which factors were relevant to this transaction and which ones were optional.
We used Herrington Carmichael to assist with a neighbour dispute regarding trespassing. With Daniel’s support, we were able to achieve our desired outcome in a timely manner. Daniel was approachable, clear in his communication and instructions, and provided us with well-informed advice on the best options for resolution. All communication was transparent, and any costs incurred were clearly explained in advance before work was undertaken. We would not hesitate to use Herrington Carmichael again for any future legal services and would definitely recommend them to others.
Professional, informative and would recommend.
Thank you so much, Thomas, for your hard work, persistence and patience throughout the process of getting the required documentation over the line by the deadline. It certainly was a challenging and frustrating time with quite a few obstacles thrown in our way, but your determination got us there.
I would love to start by saying our experience with Herrington Carmichael has been amazing from start to finish, and I would highly recommend the firm. Thomas Joucan was absolutely brilliant, and I couldn’t be any happier with his professionalism and absolute integrity, with such speedy replies and getting all aspects of our purchase and sale tied in seamlessly. Without doubt a brilliant, honest and professional solicitor with a big future ahead.
Tim Hardesty is our residential development lawyer. He is a good lawyer and has offered very sound advice. He is able to provide advice on land purchasing, planning, SDLT and issues that impact on the land buying process. What I like about Tim is that he doesn’t use legal jargon and has a common-sense approach to land buying. He is proactive in getting deals done and, importantly from my perspective, doesn’t hold deals up over unimportant legal points. He is also very personable, and well known and liked by other professionals.
We've had a great experience with Herrington Carmichael when buying our first house! All of this was completely new to us and they made sure the process was smooth and easy! Lisa has been amazing and was a recommendation from some other family members who have used her in the past. Thanks again.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you. Your professional advice, responsiveness and straightforward approach have been invaluable.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Herrington Carmichael and I can't express how grateful I am for their support and expertise. From our very first interaction, they made me feel valued and understood my needs. Their professionalism and attention to detail were evident in every step of the process. The team was always available to answer my questions and provided clear explanations of the legal jargon, which made everything much more manageable. They navigated the complexities of my purchase with such skill and care, ensuring that I was informed and comfortable at every stage. It was clear that they were committed to achieving the quick turn around from agreement to completion, and their hard work truly made a difference. I could not have asked for a better solicitors in what could have been a stressful experience. I highly recommend Herrington Carmichael to anyone in need of legal services. Their dedication and proficiency are unparalleled, and I am incredibly thankful for the support they provided. Thank you for making this journey so positive!
It was a pleasure working with Liz and Hannah on this transaction, securing crucial funding for an iconic hotel in South Devon. The communication and commercial guidance from Liz, Hannah and the wider Herrington Carmichael team was first rate throughout. I would not hesitate in recommending them for future transactions and look forward to working with the team again soon.
Dealing with Hannah was very easy. She was very helpful and professional.
Absolutely spot on - well done. I cannot be more thankful to all of you for being extremely helpful and professional right from day one. Special thanks to Hannah for getting everything sorted out at the last minute. Thank you for the excellent service and helping us out at every stage of our first house purchase. You will always be remembered!
Get valuable insights from our articles.
Find answers to your most pressing questions about our services and processes.
Typically, new build transactions will have deadlines (i.e. to exchange within 28 days of reservation) and so they are dealt with as quickly as possible. It is possible to complete the transaction within a couple of weeks in cases where, for example, there is no chain, the property is already ‘build complete’, and we receive all the necessary information and documents in a timely manner. Sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances which mean transactions are delayed, possibly for a couple of months, usually due to issues in the chain or leasehold sale requirements. It is hard to give an exact time frame; however, we will be sure to update you throughout the process, and the site office should be available to provide you with specific build updates at any point.
To calculate your Stamp Duty payable on your purchase, please visit the following link: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#/intro
As standard, the deposit requested at the point of exchange is 10% of the purchase price less your reservation fee; however, in some situations, the developer may agree to lower deposits. It would be beneficial to discuss or mention this first at the point of reservation, but we can also discuss this prior to exchange as necessary.
Incentives offered by the developer will be deducted from your balance due at the point of completion, so you effectively pay less rather than having any money transferred from the developer to you. The deposit noted in my mortgage offer is different/larger to the deposit you have asked for at the point of exchange – why is this different? The deposit amount referred to in your mortgage offer relates to the entire amount of funds being put towards your purchase by you, aside from your mortgage. The deposit that we ask for prior to exchange of contracts (the contractual deposit) relates to 10% of your purchase price, less your reservation fee.
All lender requirements vary slightly, and we may have to report certain points to them to ensure they are happy, i.e. incentives or gifts. This is not uncommon and is not something you should be concerned about. Any special conditions of your lender will be laid out in your offer.
Each developer will have slightly different requirements when it comes to needing consent for various things. Some examples of things you may need consent for are: Pets Sheds/summerhouses
A local search gathers information from the local authority to provide you with important information about your property and the surrounding area. It typically includes information on planning permissions, building regulations, conservation areas, tree preservation orders, proposed developments and enforcement notices.
An environmental search provides information about any potential environmental risks that could affect your property. It typically includes information on contaminated land, flood risk, radon gas and ground stability, amongst other issues.
The lead time for searches varies depending on which search is ordered and the demand that our search providers are experiencing. When we get to the point of ordering searches, we will be able to provide a more accurate time scale, but a rough estimate is 1 – 10 days.
The developer is responsible for insuring the property until the point of completion. After this point, it is your responsibility and is a requirement of your lender (if you have a mortgage). At completion, we will require evidence that this is in place when you have a lender and cannot complete without it. If you are purchasing a leasehold property, insurance will be the responsibility of the landlord.
Snagging will not delay your completion in any way. Upon checking the property before completion, you can compile a list and request confirmation from the developer when these will be dealt with. In addition, if you notice any snagging issues with your property once you have completed it, you can compile a list and liaise with the site/customer care team, who will arrange for these to be fixed accordingly.