Home buyers choosing to purchase newly built properties face pitfalls with yet further complications when buying a property before it is even built or where it is only partly built, says Pickworths Solicitors in Hemel Hempstead.
 
Pickworths, which earlier this year secured the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme status, says that the legalities of buying newly built property differs from buying a second hand property and there are different factors to consider such as whether the property will be approved as suitable for occupation and whether the new roads and drains will be built properly.
 
The warning comes as recent research by Which? shows that more than half of those homeowners surveyed who had bought a newly built property in the last five years experienced problems, including delays and unexpected additional costs.
 
Pickworths residential conveyancing solicitor, Kimberley Smith, said: “Buying a new home requires some additional preparation in advance with your solicitor. Establishing whether the plans reflect what is registered at the Land Registry and finding out whether the property complies with all of the planning and building regulation requirements are particularly important for newly built properties.
 
"In addition, making sure the contract sets out everything the builder has agreed to do, such as laying a lawn, installing additional sockets and laying carpets is important. 
 
“At Pickworths we are familiar with the tighter deadlines, pre-exchange contract issues, as well as the special procedures including the need for an additional valuation involved in obtaining a mortgage for a newly built home.”
 
Pickworths says that a raft of legal issues need to be checked, such as planning permission, rights of drainage and water supply, as well as rights to use all pipes and cables to the property. Your solicitor will also ensure that building regulations have been adhered to, a special insurance for new homes is obtained and issues relating to roads on the estate where the property is being built comply with the Highways Act.
 
Kimberley adds: “Buying a newly built house comes with many benefits – no chain, a brand new home and often appealing finance packages. However, the downside is that there is more to it than signing on the dotted line. Getting help from a CQS accredited firm such as Pickworths should be the first port of call when purchasing a newly built house.”
 
Pickworths underwent a rigorous application and assessment by the national Law Society to become part of CQS initiative, which recognises high quality in residential conveyancing. CQS has the support of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Building Societies Association, Legal Ombudsman and the Association of British Insurers.

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