Solicitor for Selling a House or Flat in London
Conveyancing for sellers from our High Holborn and Upton Park offices.
A solicitor for selling a house handles the legal transfer of your property to the buyer: preparing the contract pack, answering the buyer’s enquiries, exchanging contracts, paying off your mortgage and sending you the sale proceeds on completion. Instructing one early is the single best way to avoid delays once you accept an offer.
Adam Bernard Solicitors acts for sellers across London, from family homes and buy-to-let houses to leasehold flats. Our solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and the firm is accredited under the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS). You deal with a named solicitor from instruction to completion.
What does a solicitor do when you sell a house?
Your solicitor proves you own the property, tells the buyer everything the law requires them to know, and makes sure the money and the title change hands safely on the same day. In practice, that means:
- Obtaining your title register and title plan from HM Land Registry
- Carrying out identity and anti-money-laundering checks
- Drafting the sale contract and issuing the contract pack
- Helping you complete the TA6 Property Information Form, TA10 Fittings and Contents Form and, for flats, the TA7 Leasehold Information Form
- Answering the buyer’s solicitor’s enquiries
- Getting a redemption figure from your mortgage lender
- Exchanging contracts and agreeing the completion date
- Paying off your mortgage, estate agent and any other charges on completion, then sending you the balance
For a fuller walk-through of each stage, read our guide to the legal process of selling a house in the UK.
How the sale works: the six stages
- Instruct us early. Ideally before you list. We order your title documents and start the contract pack so nothing waits once an offer comes in.
- Accept an offer. Your estate agent sends a memorandum of sale to both solicitors. We send our client care letter and complete ID checks.
- Issue the contract pack. Draft contract, title documents, completed property forms and, for leasehold, the management pack.
- Answer enquiries. The buyer’s solicitor reviews searches and raises questions. Quick, accurate answers keep the chain moving.
- Exchange contracts. The buyer pays a deposit, usually 10%, and the completion date becomes binding on both sides.
- Complete. The buyer’s money arrives, we redeem your mortgage, the keys are released and we send you your proceeds.
What must a seller disclose?
You must answer the property forms honestly and fully; a false or misleading answer can let the buyer claim damages, or even undo the sale, under the Misrepresentation Act 1967. Typical areas include boundary disputes, building works without planning or building regulations approval, flooding, Japanese knotweed, and complaints with neighbours. If in doubt, tell us and we will advise on how to word the answer.
Documents you need before you sell
| Document | Why the buyer needs it | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) | Legally required before marketing | An accredited assessor; check yours on the EPC register |
| Title register and plan | Proves ownership and boundaries | HM Land Registry |
| Planning and building regulations approvals | Covers extensions, loft conversions, removed walls | Your local council |
| Guarantees and warranties | Damp proofing, windows, new boilers | Your own records |
| Gas safety and electrical certificates | Shows works were signed off | Your installer or a registered engineer |
| Leasehold management pack (flats) | Service charges, ground rent, building insurance, major works | Your freeholder or managing agent |
EPC rules for sellers
You must have a valid EPC before your home goes on the market, and it must be provided free to buyers. Under the Energy Performance of Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012, Trading Standards can issue a £200 penalty per dwelling if one is not provided. An EPC lasts 10 years. There is no minimum rating to sell; the E minimum applies only to properties being let. See GOV.UK’s guidance on EPCs when buying or selling.
Selling a leasehold flat in London
Leasehold sales take longer because the buyer needs information that only your freeholder or managing agent holds. We request the management pack as soon as you instruct us, as this is the most common cause of delay.
The buyer will also check how many years remain on the lease. Mortgage lenders are often reluctant below 80 years, so a short lease can reduce your sale price or the pool of buyers. If your lease is short, speak to our leasehold enfranchisement solicitors about extending before you sell — in many cases you can serve the extension notice and assign the benefit of it to your buyer.
The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 will raise the standard statutory lease extension to 990 years and remove marriage value, but those provisions were not yet in force as of October 2026. Read GOV.UK’s overview of leasehold property for your rights as a leaseholder.
Selling a buy-to-let or second home
If the property is not your main home, you will usually pay Capital Gains Tax on the gain and must report it to HMRC within 60 days of completion. If tenants are in occupation, the sale is normally either with vacant possession, so the tenancy must end lawfully first, or with the tenants in place to an investor buyer. For lawfully ending a tenancy before a sale, see our tenant eviction solicitors page.
Capital Gains Tax when selling a property
You do not normally pay Capital Gains Tax on your main home because of Private Residence Relief. It applies in full if the home was your only or main residence throughout ownership and the grounds are under 5,000 square metres; see tax when you sell your home.
On a buy-to-let, second home or inherited property you have not lived in, the 2026/27 position is:
| Item | 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| CGT rate on residential property (basic-rate band) | 18% |
| CGT rate on residential property (higher and additional rate) | 24% |
| Annual exempt amount (individuals) | £3,000 |
| Deadline to report and pay | 60 days from completion |
Source: Capital Gains Tax rates and allowances. You report and pay through HMRC’s Capital Gains Tax on UK property account. Non-UK residents must report every UK property sale within 60 days, even where no tax is due. We are not tax advisers, so take specialist advice before exchange.
Selling with a mortgage, or with someone else
Your mortgage is paid off from the sale money on completion day; you do not need to clear it beforehand. We obtain a redemption statement from your lender before exchange so you know your net proceeds. Check your mortgage offer for early repayment charges before accepting an offer.
If you own the property jointly, every legal owner must sign the transfer. Selling after a separation, or removing one owner instead of selling, may be a transfer of equity rather than a sale. Our guide on how a house is split in a divorce explains the options.
How long does it take to sell a house?
Most sales take around three to four months from accepted offer to completion, longer for leasehold flats and long chains. The main causes of delay are slow leasehold management packs, buyer mortgage approval, local search returns and unresolved title or planning issues. See how long conveyancing takes for a stage-by-stage timeline.
Buying at the same time?
If you are selling to fund an onward purchase, we can act on both transactions so exchange and completion are synchronised. See our property purchase solicitors page, or the full range of services offered by our residential conveyancing solicitors in London.
How much does a solicitor cost to sell a house?
We give you a written quote, including VAT and third-party costs such as Land Registry copies, before you instruct us. For what a seller’s quote should include and how to compare firms, read what to know before you get conveyancing quotes or see our conveyancing fees.
Why sellers choose Adam Bernard Solicitors
- Two London offices: High Holborn (Central London) and Upton Park (East London)
- Regulated and accredited: SRA-regulated solicitors and CQS accreditation
- 15 years, 15,000+ clients across the firm
- One named solicitor for your whole sale
- Contact 24/7 by phone, WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams or Skype
- Multilingual team for clients across London’s communities
Ready to sell? Call 0207 100 2525 or book a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a solicitor to sell my house?
There is no legal requirement, but in practice almost every sale uses a solicitor or licensed conveyancer. Your mortgage lender will require one to redeem the mortgage, and the buyer's solicitor will expect a professional on the other side.
When should I instruct a solicitor to sell my house?
As soon as you decide to sell, ideally before you list. That lets us order your title documents and prepare the contract pack so the sale moves as soon as you accept an offer.
Do I need an EPC to sell my house?
Yes. You must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate before marketing your home and provide it free to buyers. Trading Standards can issue a £200 penalty per dwelling if you do not. There is no minimum rating to sell.
Do I pay Capital Gains Tax when I sell my house?
Not usually on your main home, because Private Residence Relief applies. On a buy-to-let or second home, CGT is charged at 18% or 24% on gains above the £3,000 annual exempt amount (2026/27), and must be reported and paid within 60 days of completion.
Can I sell my house with a mortgage?
Yes. Your solicitor obtains a redemption figure from your lender and pays the mortgage off from the sale money on completion day. Check for early repayment charges first.
Can I sell a leasehold flat with less than 80 years left?
Yes, but many buyers' lenders will be reluctant and the price may fall. Extending the lease before or during the sale often protects the value; we can advise on the timing and cost.
How long does it take a solicitor to sell a house?
Typically three to four months from accepted offer to completion. Leasehold flats, long chains and slow buyer mortgages can add weeks.
What happens on completion day?
The buyer's solicitor sends the purchase money, we pay off your mortgage and estate agent, the keys are released, and we send you the remaining proceeds the same day where possible.
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