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DTM Legal
5/5
350+Reviews
Chester Office: 01244 354 800
Liverpool Office: 0151 321 0000

Buying a New-Build Property

Specialist conveyancing support to help you understand your new-build purchase, meet the developer’s deadlines and move into your new home with confidence.

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Buying a newly built home can involve different legal and practical considerations from purchasing an existing property. Developers commonly require buyers to exchange contracts within a relatively short period after paying a reservation fee, even where construction of the property has not yet been completed.

DTM Legal advises first-time buyers, home movers, downsizers and residential property investors purchasing new-build houses and apartments. We can assist whether the property is ready to occupy, still under construction or being purchased off-plan.

Our New Build Conveyancing team will review the developer’s legal documents, investigate the property title and explain the rights, restrictions and responsibilities that will affect you as the owner. We will also work with your mortgage lender, developer and selling agent to progress the purchase within the required timescale while ensuring that you understand the commitment you are making.

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New Build Conveyancing Services

We provide legal support throughout the purchase of a newly built property, including:

  • Reviewing the reservation documents and developer’s contract pack
  • Investigating the legal title to the development and individual property
  • Checking the property, plot, parking and garden plans
  • Reviewing planning permissions and building regulation documentation
  • Checking the new-build warranty or other structural warranty arrangements
  • Advising on estate roads, drains, sewers and utility arrangements
  • Reviewing rights of access and rights to use shared areas
  • Advising on restrictive covenants affecting the property
  • Reviewing estate management arrangements and service charges
  • Advising on freehold and leasehold new-build properties
  • Checking the proposed lease when purchasing a new-build apartment
  • Reviewing your mortgage offer and reporting to your lender
  • Advising on developer incentives, allowances and gifted deposits
  • Raising enquiries with the developer’s solicitor
  • Preparing a report explaining the contract and legal title
  • Arranging the signing of the contract and mortgage deed
  • Exchanging contracts within the developer’s deadline
  • Advising on completion arrangements where the property is still being built
  • Completing and submitting your Stamp Duty Land Tax return
  • Registering your ownership with HM Land Registry
  • Dealing with post-completion notices and management company requirements

New Build Conveyancing Costs

We provide a personalised fixed-fee quotation based on the property, purchase price and complexity of the transaction.

Your quotation will clearly distinguish between our legal fees and payments made to third parties, which may include:

  • Property searches
  • HM Land Registry fees
  • Stamp Duty Land Tax
  • Electronic bank transfer fees
  • Identity and due diligence checks
  • Notice or registration fees charged by a landlord or management company
  • Fees relating to leasehold or estate management arrangements

Additional legal work may be required where the purchase involves shared ownership, Help to Buy arrangements, a gifted deposit, a management company, complex lease provisions or requirements arising under the Building Safety Act 2022.

We will explain the likely costs at the beginning of the transaction and notify you before carrying out any additional chargeable work.

Why Instruct DTM Legal?

New-build purchases frequently operate to strict reservation and exchange deadlines. It is therefore important to instruct a conveyancer who understands the documentation used by developers and can identify the information needed at an early stage.

Our New Build Conveyancing team has experience working with buyers, developers, lenders and selling agents on a wide range of new-build developments. We will carefully review the legal structure of the development, including the ownership and maintenance of shared roads, landscaped areas, drainage systems and other communal facilities.

We will keep you updated as your purchase progresses and explain any provisions that may affect your ownership or future sale of the property. Where the property is still under construction, we will also advise you on how completion will be triggered and what will happen if the home is not ready by the anticipated date.

We provide:

  • Specialist experience in new-build conveyancing
  • Clear explanations of complex developer documents
  • Prompt action to meet reservation and exchange deadlines
  • A personalised fixed-fee quotation
  • Regular updates throughout the purchase
  • Coordination with developers, selling agents and mortgage lenders
  • Advice on both freehold and leasehold new-build properties
  • Support from reservation through to registration of your ownership

Get in Touch

Contact DTM Legal’s New Build Conveyancing team for a personalised quotation and specialist advice on purchasing your new home.

To discuss your requirements, contact:

Key Contact
Head of Residential Conveyancing
DTM Legal
5/5
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Key Considerations for New-Build Property Buyers

Read our Key Considerations guide to understand some of the points a solicitor may wish to discuss when responding to your enquiry. It can help you prepare the relevant information and make your initial conversation more productive.

View Key Considerations
DTM Legal
5/5
350+Reviews

Residential Property Team

Sue Elias

Head of Residential Conveyancing
Anna Duffy

Head of Property
Siobhan Beattie

Partner, Residential Conveyancing

Laura Moore

Solicitor, Trusts & Estates
Molly Clapham

Senior Paralegal, Dispute Resolution
Ceri Davies

Senior Plot Conveyancer, Residential Property
Faye Kelshaw

Associate, Trusts & Estates
Lucy Ayoubi

Solicitor, Dispute Resolution
Louise Harcombe

Associate, Employment & HR
Beth Thompson

Solicitor, Corporate & Commercial
Michele Mulville

Senior Conveyancer, Residential Conveyancing

Frequently Asked Questions

Commonly asked questions when purchasing a new-build property.

New-build transactions usually involve a substantial contract pack covering the wider development as well as the individual property. The documents may deal with planning agreements, construction warranties, shared facilities, estate management arrangements and rights that will only become effective once the development is complete.

A solicitor with new-build conveyancing experience will understand the structure of these transactions and the developer’s timescales. They can focus enquiries on the issues that are material to your purchase while progressing the legal work efficiently.

The developer will normally set an exchange deadline when you reserve the property. The precise period will be stated in the reservation agreement and can vary between developments.

You should instruct your solicitor and begin your mortgage application immediately after reserving. Tell your solicitor at the outset about the exchange deadline so that the contract papers, searches, mortgage offer and source of funds can be dealt with as promptly as possible.

Where a property is still under construction, the contract will often provide an estimated completion period rather than a guaranteed moving date. Completion may take place shortly after the developer confirms that the property is structurally complete and serves formal notice.

The contract should also be checked for a long-stop date. This is a later date by which the property should be ready and may give you the right to end the contract if construction is significantly delayed. Your solicitor will explain the relevant provisions before you exchange contracts.

A property being new does not guarantee that it will be free from defects. The developer’s inspection, structural warranty and lender’s valuation each serve different purposes and may not identify every problem with the workmanship or finish.

You may wish to arrange an independent survey or professional snagging inspection. The most appropriate timing will depend on the development and the access permitted by the developer.

Where roads, landscaped areas, drainage systems or other shared facilities are not adopted or maintained by the local authority, a private management company may be responsible for them. Owners may then be required to contribute towards the cost through an estate charge or service charge.

Your solicitor will review the legal arrangements and explain how the charge is collected, how your contribution is calculated and what obligations you will have as an owner. The amount may change over time as the development and its maintenance requirements evolve.

What our Clients Say

See what our customers have to say about their experience

Review Solicitors Stars
5/5 350+Reviews
MM Executors
04/08/2026
When our mother died, she left an estate of 8 rental properties as well as her own home. The disposal of this estate has taken over 2 years, and was difficult because the executors had no prior knowledge of the properties. We were very fortunate to have Soraya and her team as our conveyancers. DTM are responsive, supportive and professional, and gave us excellent advice throughout a challenging time. I would recommend them highly.
Angela and Tom
03/08/2026
We received a professional service and responses through out this process. We were able to communicate with our solicitors either by phone or email as required, with any questions or concerns we had. We always received quick feedback.
Nicky
03/08/2026
Excellent Very swift response to emails Regular updates Polite and friendly manner

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