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Guidance for inspectors on how to make this decision and the process to follow.

• Updated: 7 November 2025

How to buy a home: preparing to buy, deciding on a home, making offers, conveyancing, paying Stamp Duty Land Tax and making complaints.

• Overview

  Buying a home takes about 5 months on average. The process can take longer…

• Preparing to buy

  When you decide you want to buy a home, you may need to get a mortgage to…

• Deciding on a home

  There are different ways to own a property. Leasehold and freehold…

• Making an offer

  Before you make an offer, check: what the property is worth the number of…

• Transferring ownership (conveyancing)

  Once the offer is accepted, the seller is responsible for drawing up a…

• Tax

  You may need to pay: Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) when you buy a home in…

• Making a complaint

  You can make a complaint to a company involved in the sale if you’re…

Why using a prioritisation method is important and how to choose one.

• Updated: 6 December 2018

• Updated: 24 April 2019

Explains planning controls relating to the storage of hazardous substances in England and how to handle development proposals around hazardous establishments.

• Updated: 1 November 2019

How to work out splitting up money, property and possessions when you divorce or dissolve a civil partnership - including mediation.

Help someone make decisions if they appoint you or if they lack mental capacity - includes using a power of attorney, becoming a deputy and getting a one-off Court of Protection ruling.

A patent registers your invention and lets you take legal action against anyone who makes, uses, sells or imports your invention without your permission.

• Updated: 23 April 2020

Check you can get a divorce, agree or disagree with a divorce application, what to do if your husband or wife lacks mental capacity.