Buying property in the UK
Buying property in the UK
Buying a home in England takes 12 weeks from offer to move-in on the published timetable, and becomes legally binding at exchange of contracts. Stamp duty is charged in bands, with a surcharge for buyers living outside the UK.
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A reader comparing UK property is comparing four things at once: how long a purchase takes, what it is taxed at, who does the legal work and what letting the place out obliges them to do. Ownership type itself is at UK property ownership types.
01
How does buying a home in the UK work?
The GOV.UK guide puts 12 weeks between an accepted offer and moving in, with the mortgage application taking 18 to 40 days and searches and the survey 28 to 45 days. The process runs in parallel rather than in sequence.
| Stage | Published time |
|---|---|
| Offer accepted to move-in | 12 weeks |
| Mortgage application | 18–40 days |
| Searches and survey | 28–45 days |
Nothing binds either side until exchange of contracts, which is why a purchase can fall through late. The legal steps are set out at UK conveyancing.
02
How much is stamp duty on a home purchase?
HMRC charges stamp duty in bands on the purchase price: nothing up to £125,000, 2 per cent from £125,001 to £250,000, 5 per cent to £925,000, 10 per cent to £1.5 million and 12 per cent above that.
| Band | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% |
| £125,001 – £250,000 | 2% |
| £250,001 – £925,000 | 5% |
| £925,001 – £1.5m | 10% |
| Above £1.5m | 12% |
03
What extra rules apply to buyers living abroad?
HMRC applies stamp duty rates two percentage points higher to buyers not resident in the UK, and that surcharge is added on top of every residential band. Residence is judged on the days spent in the UK before the purchase.
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04
Who handles the title and the legal process?
Transfer of title, contract preparation and local authority searches are the work of solicitors authorised by the SRA and licensed conveyancers. Once the transfer completes, the change of ownership is registered with HM Land Registry.
These are regulated activities rather than administrative ones, and the professions permitted to carry them out are named in law. The steps, the searches and the fees are set out at UK conveyancing.
05
What obligations does a landlord carry?
Three obligations are published: the energy rating, tax deduction and the sale declaration. A home rated below E cannot be let, and rent paid to a landlord living abroad is subject to deduction at source.
- An EPC rating below E bars the property from being let.
- Rent to a landlord living abroad is taxed at source unless HMRC approves otherwise.
- A sale must be declared to HMRC within the published deadline.
- The tenancy rules themselves are separate and are set out at /uk-renting-a-home.
06
What does British Global do in the property process?
British Global informs and refers: it sets out the steps of a purchase, the stamp duty bands, the official costs and a landlord's obligations in one report with the source for each. It does not prepare contracts.
- A written report sets out the purchase steps against your own timetable.
- Stamp duty and the official costs are calculated with their sources.
- Legal work is referred to a solicitor authorised by the SRA.
- Financing questions are referred to an FCA-authorised adviser.
Sources
- GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
The published time from an accepted offer to moving in is 12 weeks, with the mortgage application taking 18 to 40 days and searches and the survey 28 to 45 days. — 26 August 2026
- GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
Residential stamp duty is charged in bands: nothing to £125,000, 2 per cent to £250,000, 5 per cent to £925,000, 10 per cent to £1.5 million and 12 per cent above. — 26 August 2026
- GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
Buyers not resident in the UK pay stamp duty two percentage points above the standard residential rates, applied since 1 April 2021. — 31 August 2026
- GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
A property with an EPC rating below E cannot be let under the minimum energy efficiency standard. — 26 August 2026
