New Build Property Solicitors
If you are purchasing a new build property and need a solicitor who will review the developer’s contract critically and protect your position through to completion, our team at Law Lane Solicitors, CQS-accredited and approved on 91 lender panels, is ready to act for you now.
Buying a new build property is fundamentally different from purchasing an existing home. You are often exchanging contracts on a property that has not yet been built, working from a developer’s standard contract drafted to reflect the developer’s priorities, and managing a mortgage offer that may expire before the property is ready. The risks are real: reservation fees are non-refundable, exchange deposits are substantial, and delays to the build programme can carry serious financial consequences if the contract does not give you adequate protection. At Law Lane Solicitors, founded in 2015 with offices in Stratford, High Holborn, and Croydon, we act for new build buyers across London and throughout England and Wales, reviewing developer contracts with your interests in mind.
We hold CQS accreditation and are approved on 91 lender panels. New build mortgage products often carry shorter offer periods, and lenders may require updates or re-valuations if completion is delayed. Being on 91 panels means we are already approved to act for your lender in most cases, which removes an additional layer of cost and delay. Our multilingual team speaks over 28 languages, and we act for buyers across the country and from overseas.
With a Trustpilot rating of 4.95 from over 1,200 reviews and in-house barristers as well as solicitors, we bring both conveyancing expertise and litigation capacity to new build transactions where developer disputes arise.
Our New Build Legal Services
We advise and act on new build purchases at every stage of the process, covering:
- Reviewing and advising on the developer’s draft contract, including reservation agreements, long-stop completion dates, and the developer’s right to vary the specification
- Negotiating amendments to the developer’s standard terms where the contract does not adequately protect your position
- Advising on the financial implications of exchanging contracts on a property under construction, including the position if the developer becomes insolvent before completion
- Reporting on the title to the new build plot, including the estate conveyance, title guarantee, and any restrictions or covenants registered against the development
- Advising on newly created leasehold titles, including the prohibition on ground rents under the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 and the developer’s management arrangements
- Dealing with mortgage offer extensions and fresh applications where the build programme is delayed beyond the anticipated completion date
- Calculating your Stamp Duty Land Tax liability under Part 4 of the Finance Act 2003, including any developer incentives toward SDLT costs
- Handling shared ownership new build purchases, including lease terms and staircasing provisions
- Registering your new build title at HM Land Registry on first registration and satisfying post-completion conditions imposed by the developer or management company
- Providing a fixed fee quote at the outset so you know the full legal cost before you exchange
Why Choose Law Lane for Your New Build Purchase?
Developer contracts are prepared to reflect the developer’s priorities. Clauses permitting delays without penalty, specification changes without consent, or deposit retention in circumstances that may seem disproportionate appear regularly in standard forms. We review contracts with those risks in mind, advise you on what the terms mean in practice, and negotiate amendments before you exchange where that is achievable.
New build lenders impose conditions on the solicitors they instruct, covering warranty types, lease terms on leasehold new builds, and the developer’s background. Our approval on 91 lender panels means we already meet most of those requirements and can address them efficiently, reducing the risk that your mortgage offer lapses due to a legal complication on our side.
Our in-house barristers mean we can advise on and conduct litigation arising from a new build purchase, whether involving a defective title or a misrepresentation claim about the property, without transferring your file to a separate team. For fee information, see our conveyancing pricing page or call us directly for a quote specific to your development.
Get in Touch
Our New Build Solicitors are ready to review your developer’s contract and protect your position. Call or email us as soon as you have agreed a reservation.
Phone: 020 7870 4870
Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk
Book a consultation with our team and you will receive clear, practical advice on the risks and legal process involved in buying a new build before you exchange contracts.

Law Lane Solicitors is proud to be accredited under The Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation.
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“I had an excellent experience with the Law Lane Solicitors and their team. From start to finish, the service was professional, efficient, and very well organised. They kept me informed throughout the entire process and were always available to answer any questions I had.
What impressed me most was their attention to detail and the genuine care they showed in handling my case. Everything was explained clearly, which made the whole process smooth and stress-free. I’m extremely satisfied with the service provided and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for reliable and professional legal support. Thank you again for your outstanding work!” – A on Review Solicitors (March ’26)
Frequently Asked Questions – New Build Property Solicitors
What is exchange on plan, and why does it carry risk?
Exchanging on plan means committing to buy a property that does not yet exist in its completed form. You pay a deposit, typically 10% of the purchase price, and are legally bound to complete when the developer certifies the property is ready. The risk is that if the developer does not complete on time, or the finished property differs from what was described, recovering your position can be difficult without clear contractual protections in place from the outset.
Can I negotiate the developer's contract?
Yes, in many cases it is possible to negotiate amendments to a developer’s standard contract, even where developers present their terms as fixed. Amendments we commonly seek include tightening the long-stop completion date, clarifying what constitutes a material change to the specification, and strengthening the conditions under which you can withdraw and recover your deposit. The scope for negotiation depends on demand and the stage of the sales process.
What is a long-stop date in a new build contract?
A long-stop date is the final deadline by which the developer must be ready to complete the sale. If that date passes without completion, you are generally entitled to withdraw and recover your deposit. The length of that deadline determines how much delay you must accept before you have the right to exit. We advise on whether the proposed long-stop date is reasonable given the stage of construction.
What structural warranty is required on a new build?
Most mortgage lenders require a structural warranty covering major defects for a minimum of ten years from completion. The most widely accepted schemes are NHBC Buildmark, Premier Guarantee, and LABC Warranty. Some lenders specify which schemes they will accept. We check that your property has an acceptable warranty as part of our review of the contract documentation.
What if my mortgage offer expires before the new build completes?
A lapsed mortgage offer may require a fresh application at a potentially different rate. Some lenders offer extensions on new build products on request, and others will consider a re-valuation. We alert you as early as possible when a build delay risks your offer expiring, so that steps can be taken with your broker and lender before the deadline passes.
What are the risks of buying a leasehold new build?
Leasehold new builds carry ongoing service charges and management obligations for the duration of your ownership. The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 prohibits ground rents on new regulated residential leases granted from 30 June 2022, so you will not face financial demands for ground rent on a post-commencement lease. We review the lease terms and advise on the financial implications before you exchange.
Is Help to Buy still available on new builds?
The Help to Buy equity loan scheme in England closed to new applicants in March 2023. There is no active national successor scheme at present. Some developers offer their own incentive packages. We advise on the legal requirements attached to any such arrangement, specific to your purchase.
What does it cost to use Law Lane for a new build purchase?
We do not charge for an initial conversation. We provide a full, itemised quote before you instruct us. New build transactions involve specific legal work, including reviewing the developer’s contract and managing post-completion registration, and our quote reflects that. Call or email us for a figure specific to your property and purchase price.
How quickly can you review a developer's contract?
Developers sometimes impose short deadlines for exchange, particularly on popular developments. We act promptly on new build instructions and agree on a clear reporting timescale at the outset. If you are facing a developer-imposed deadline, please let us know when you first contact us, and we will assess what is achievable.
Get in Touch
Whether you are applying for the first time, extending your leave, or dealing with a problem mid-course, our immigration team is ready to help.
Phone: 020 7870 4870
Email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk
Book a consultation with our immigration team and start your studies in the UK with your immigration status in order.
Immigration Team
Tahir Shahab Khan
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