First-Time Buyer’s Legal Checklist 2026 | Ally Randall

First-Time Buyer’s Legal Checklist: What to Do Before You Buy

Buying your first home is exciting, but the legal side can feel unfamiliar. At Ally Randall Solicitors, we help first-time buyers across Northwood Hills and the surrounding area, so we know which questions come up again and again. This first-time buyer legal checklist walks you through what to do before you make an offer, after your offer is accepted, before exchange and after completion, including how stamp duty and the Lifetime ISA work.

Quick answer: Before you buy your first home, confirm that you qualify as a first-time buyer, plan your deposit and any Lifetime ISA use, budget for stamp duty and legal costs, choose a regulated solicitor and have your ID and proof of funds ready. Figures in this guide that come from official sources or our published fees are stated plainly. Anything else is marked as an estimate.

Who Counts as a First-Time Buyer?

For stamp duty, you are a first-time buyer if you have never owned a freehold or leasehold interest in a residential property anywhere in the world. That includes property overseas. If you are buying with someone else, everyone buying with you must also be a first-time buyer, and you must intend to live in the property as your main home. If the price is over £500,000, first-time buyer relief cannot be claimed.

Mortgage lenders can use their own definition of a first-time buyer, so check with your lender as well.

First-Time Buyer Legal Checklist

Before You Make an Offer

Confirm that you qualify as a first-time buyer for stamp duty
Get a mortgage in principle if you need a mortgage
Work out your full budget, including stamp duty, legal fees and other costs
If you have a Lifetime ISA, check it meets the rules and tell your provider and solicitor early
Research solicitors and ask for a written quote before you start

As Soon as Your Offer Is Accepted

Instruct your solicitor with the property address, the agreed price and the estate agent’s details
Provide photo ID and proof of address
Provide proof of your deposit and where it came from, including a gifted deposit letter if a family member is helping
Read and return your client care letter, which sets out the fee, who handles your case and how to complain

Early instruction helps keep your timeline short. You can contact our residential conveyancing solicitors as soon as your offer is agreed.

Before Exchange of Contracts

Review the contract pack and the report on title, and ask your solicitor about anything you do not understand
Make sure property searches are ordered and enquiries are answered
Check your mortgage offer is in place and its conditions are met
Arrange your survey and read the findings
If the property is leasehold, check the lease length, ground rent and service charges
Arrange buildings insurance, which you need from exchange
Have your deposit ready, which is typically around 10% of the price at exchange (an estimate, as the amount is agreed in the contract)

Completion and After

Your solicitor sends the balance of the purchase price on completion day
Your solicitor files your Stamp Duty Land Tax return and pays HMRC, usually on completion day, and the return must reach HMRC within 14 days of completion
Your solicitor applies to HM Land Registry to register you as the new owner
Once you own a home, consider making a Will or reviewing an existing one. Our wills and probate solicitors recommend reviewing a Will after buying or selling property.

For a full walk-through of each stage, see the steps on our residential conveyancing page.

Stamp Duty for First-Time Buyers

Qualifying first-time buyers pay no Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on the first £300,000 and 5% on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000. If the price is over £500,000, you cannot claim the relief and you follow the standard rates for people who have bought a home before. These rules apply to residential purchases in England and Northern Ireland, as published on GOV.UK in October 2026.

Purchase price	SDLT for a qualifying first-time buyer
£300,000	£0
£400,000	£5,000
£500,000	£10,000
£550,000	£17,500 (standard rates apply, no relief)

If you are not a UK resident for SDLT purposes, you will usually pay a 2% surcharge on top of the other rates. Check the HMRC calculator before you finalise your budget, because rates and thresholds can change. Your solicitor completes and files the SDLT return for you.

Using a Lifetime ISA to Buy Your First Home

A Lifetime ISA (LISA) can help you save for a first home. These are the main rules as currently published:

You can open one if you are aged 18 to 39 and a UK resident
You can save up to £4,000 a year, and the government adds a 25% bonus of up to £1,000 a year
The property must cost £450,000 or less
You must buy at least 12 months after opening the account and making your first payment
You must live in the property, so you cannot use it to buy to let
The purchase must go through a solicitor or conveyancer, who receives the funds directly from your ISA provider
The purchase should complete within 90 days of your conveyancer receiving the withdrawn funds
Other withdrawals before age 60 usually attract a 25% withdrawal charge

Tell your solicitor early that you plan to use a Lifetime ISA, because your provider needs paperwork from both of you before it releases the money.

Possible change: In June 2026 the government launched a consultation on replacing the Lifetime ISA with a First Time Buyer ISA, and reports point to April 2028. This is a proposal and not yet law, so check GOV.UK for the current rules before you rely on any ISA.

Budgeting for the Costs of Buying Your First Home

Your deposit is only part of the cost. This table shows what to plan for and how sure each figure is.

Cost	What to expect	Status
Our legal fees	From £1,305 plus VAT for a purchase up to £499,999, and from £1,350 plus VAT for £500,000 to £749,999	Published fee
Stamp duty	£0 to £10,000 for qualifying first-time buyers on prices from £300,000 to £500,000	Official rates
HM Land Registry fee	Set on a published scale based on the price paid	Check current scale on GOV.UK
Property searches	A few hundred pounds	Estimate
ID checks and bank transfer fee	Vary by firm	Ask for a written quote
Survey	Around £300 to £1,500 depending on the type	Estimate
Mortgage fees	Depend on your lender	Check with your lender

Our fees may vary depending on the property value, transaction type, title complexity, lender requirements, leasehold documents and any additional legal work. For a figure based on your own purchase, request a conveyancing quote.

Documents First-Time Buyers Need

Photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence
Proof of address
Proof of your deposit and its source, such as bank statements
A gifted deposit letter, if someone is giving you money
Your mortgage in principle or mortgage offer
Lifetime ISA details, if you are using one
Details of the property, the agreed price and the estate agent

Ask your solicitor how many months of statements they need, because requirements vary between firms and lenders.

Freehold or Leasehold: What First-Time Buyers Should Check

Many flats are leasehold, which means you own the property for a fixed term but not the land. Before you buy, your solicitor should review the lease and the management pack, and check ground rent, service charges, lease length and landlord requirements. Leasehold purchases involve extra paperwork, so allow more time.

Common First-Time Buyer Mistakes

Spending the deposit before checking the full cost of buying
Waiting to instruct a solicitor until after booking removals
Not telling your solicitor about a Lifetime ISA or gifted deposit early
Assuming first-time buyer relief applies to a home over £500,000
Delaying ID and proof of funds
Skipping the survey to save money
Not reading the report on title before exchange

Why Use a First-Time Buyer Solicitor?

A first-time buyer solicitor explains the process in plain language, spots legal risks before you commit and manages the paperwork so you can focus on the move. Our conveyancing team acts for first-time buyers as well as experienced investors, and each matter has a dedicated fee earner. You can meet the people who would handle your case on our team page, learn more about Ally Randall Solicitors or explore our wider legal services.

We act for clients across Northwood Hills, Northwood, Pinner, Ruislip, Eastcote, Harrow and Watford.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Our fees are as published on our residential conveyancing page, and tax and ISA rules are as published at the date of writing. They can change. Figures marked as estimates are approximate.

Start Your First Home Purchase With Us

Call us on 020 8152 8737 or contact Ally Randall Solicitors to talk through your first home purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a first-time buyer solicitor do?

A first-time buyer solicitor handles the legal work of your purchase. They check your ID and source of funds, review the contract and title, order searches, raise enquiries, report to you and your lender, exchange contracts, complete the purchase, pay stamp duty and register you as the new owner with HM Land Registry.

Do I need a solicitor to use a Lifetime ISA?

Yes. To use a Lifetime ISA towards your first home, the purchase must go through a solicitor or conveyancer, who receives the funds directly from your ISA provider.

How much stamp duty do first-time buyers pay?

Qualifying first-time buyers pay no stamp duty on the first £300,000 and 5% on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000. If the price is over £500,000, first-time buyer relief cannot be claimed and the standard rates apply.

Can I claim first-time buyer relief if I own property abroad?

Generally no. For stamp duty, a first-time buyer must never have owned a freehold or leasehold interest in a residential property anywhere in the world, and anyone buying with you must also qualify.

How long does first-time buyer conveyancing take?

Our conveyancing process typically takes around 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the property chain and the complexity of the transaction.

How much does conveyancing cost for a first-time buyer?

Our published legal fees start from £1,305 plus VAT for a purchase up to £499,999. Disbursements and stamp duty are charged in addition where they apply.