Buying a house in Scotland: missives, Home Reports and LBTT explained
How conveyancing works in Scotland, from offers over and closing dates to missives and LBTT, and what a Scottish solicitor's quote should include.
Scottish conveyancing works differently. Sellers must usually provide a Home Report, many homes are sold by "offers over" with a closing date, and the contract is formed by an exchange of letters between solicitors called missives. Buyers pay Land and Buildings Transaction Tax to Revenue Scotland, and ownership is registered with Registers of Scotland. The solicitor must be qualified in Scots law.
Compare fees in ScotlandFees are set by each firm and vary with the work involved. Compare fixed fees side by side on Compare Legal, check what each quote includes, and make sure VAT and disbursements are in the total before you choose.
Not in Scotland itself, but they must be qualified in Scotland. Property law in Scotland is separate, so a firm from elsewhere in the UK usually can't act on a Scotland property.
A typical purchase takes 8 to 12 weeks from offer to completion. Chains, leasehold paperwork, mortgage offers and survey issues can make it longer.
The firm's own fee, VAT, and disbursements: the costs the firm pays for you, such as searches, registration fees or court fees. Ask whether the fee is fixed and what would make it go up.
How conveyancing works in Scotland, from offers over and closing dates to missives and LBTT, and what a Scottish solicitor's quote should include.
What to ask a solicitor or conveyancer before you sign up, from what the fee covers to who will handle your case, so you can compare firms on more than price.
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