Conveyancing ยท Buying

Buying a House in Scotland

Buying a house in Scotland works differently from the rest of the UK. Our Glasgow conveyancing solicitors handle every legal step, from first offer to keys in hand.

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Clear fees agreed upfront

What we handle

Everything your purchase needs

Noting interest and offers

First, we note your interest with the selling agent, advise on the home report, and submit a formal offer. If it goes to a closing date, we help you pitch it right.

Missives and title checks

Next, we negotiate the contract, examine the title, run searches and deal with your mortgage lender’s requirements.

LBTT dealt with

We calculate your Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, apply first-time buyer relief where it fits, and submit the return for you.

Settlement and registration

Finally, funds move, the title transfers into your name, and your ownership is registered with Registers of Scotland.

How buying a house in Scotland is different

In Scotland, only a solicitor can submit a formal offer and conclude missives. That means you need us involved earlier than buyers do in England – ideally before you offer, so problems in the home report or title are caught before you commit.

The upside is certainty. Once missives are concluded, both sides are legally bound, so Scottish purchases rarely fall through late in the day. We keep you informed in plain English at every stage.

First-time buyer?

You are our favourite kind of client. We walk you through every step without assuming you know the jargon, and we tell you what everything costs before you spend a penny.

Common questions

Buying in Scotland FAQs

Before you offer. In Scotland your solicitor submits the offer, so we need to be instructed first. Involving us early also means we can review the home report and flag issues before you are committed.

It is an invitation, not a price. Most properties sell above the offers over figure, and the home report valuation is usually the better guide to what to bid. At a closing date, we help you judge how much over to go.

Typically 6 to 8 weeks from an accepted offer to getting the keys, though chains, lenders and title issues can stretch that. We give you a realistic timescale at the start and keep you updated.

Land and Buildings Transaction Tax is Scotland’s version of stamp duty. It depends on the price and your circumstances – first-time buyers get relief, and additional properties attract a supplement. We calculate and submit it for you.

Until missives are concluded, yes – and so can the seller. Once missives are concluded, both parties are legally bound and withdrawing has serious financial consequences. That is why we settle the contract terms carefully before concluding.

Ready to make an offer?

Speak to us before you bid. We will tell you where you stand, and it could save you the price of a mistake.

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