Reading time: 8 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Exchange and completion are two distinct stages of a property transaction. Exchange makes the sale legally binding, while completion is when the purchase money is transferred and the buyer can normally collect the keys.
Reading time: 7 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Once your offer is accepted, the conveyancing process begins. From instructing a solicitor and arranging searches to reviewing the legal title, raising enquiries and preparing for exchange, several important steps must be completed before the property becomes yours.
Reading time: 8 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Conveyancing commonly takes around 8–12 weeks from a property being sold subject to contract to completion, although every transaction is different. Searches, mortgage arrangements, legal enquiries, property chains and unexpected title issues can all affect the timeframe.
Reading time: 6 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership. This step-by-step guide explains what happens from instructing a solicitor and carrying out searches to exchanging contracts, completing the transaction and registering the new owner.
Reading time: 4 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
A small estate does not automatically avoid probate. Whether a Grant is required depends on the assets involved, how they were owned and the requirements of banks, building societies and other organisations holding the deceased’s money or property.
Reading time: 5 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Proposed commercial leasehold reforms could change how business leases are granted, renewed and transferred. The Law Commission’s review considers renewal rights, contracting out, short-term tenancies, rents and dispute resolution for landlords and business tenants.
Reading time: 4 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Probate delays can leave executors and beneficiaries uncertain about what happens to an estate before the Grant is issued. Executors must continue protecting assets, managing urgent expenses and gathering information while avoiding actions that require formal authority.
Reading time: 4 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Proposed reforms could make buying and selling homes faster, clearer and less likely to fall through. Plans include more upfront property information, standardised sales packs, digital property logbooks, improved estate-agent standards and future binding conditional contracts.
Reading time: 4 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
The Inheritance Act allows certain relatives and dependants to challenge an estate where a Will or the intestacy rules have not made reasonable financial provision for them. Courts consider financial needs, family relationships, dependency and the estate’s circumstances.
Reading time: 5 minutes
Written by: Ruth Stevenson, Director/Solicitor at Ives & Co Solicitors
Commercial property joint ventures allow landowners, developers, investors and funding partners to combine resources for development projects. Clear agreements establish ownership, funding obligations, decision-making powers, profit distribution, risk allocation and exit arrangements.