Buying privately, safely

The rules

• View in person before anything else. Twice if you are serious.
• Never pay a deposit, holding fee or "reservation" to the seller. Money goes through your solicitor at exchange. A seller who asks for money up front is not a seller.
• Your solicitor checks ownership. They get official copies of the title from the Land Registry and confirm the seller is the registered owner. Do not rely on a document a seller shows you.
• Get a survey. A Level 2 survey (£400 to £800) on a normal house; Level 3 on anything old, rural or unusual.
• Check planning and use for land and equestrian property; your solicitor and the council planning portal.

Making an offer that lands

Private sellers are wary of time-wasters. Put the offer in writing with your position: cash, mortgage agreed in principle (attach it), chain or no chain, timescale, your solicitor's name. A clear, well-evidenced offer at 95% often beats a vague one at 100%.

Get your mortgage sorted first

An agreement in principle takes a day with a broker and makes you a real buyer. If you need one: We Find Mortgages for England, Scotland and Wales, Belfast Mortgages for Northern Ireland, help for first-time buyers, or bridging for land, auctions and chain breaks.

Red flags

• Pressure to decide today.
• A price well below anything comparable.
• The seller cannot meet you at the property or will not do a second viewing.
• Any request for money outside the solicitors.

Report anything that worries you to us and we will look at the listing.

This is general information for people in the UK selling or buying privately, not legal or financial advice. Property law differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland; always use a solicitor.