Buying or Selling Property Overseas
Anyone buying property abroad, whether as a holiday home or an investment opportunity, should consider instructing a UK solicitor to minimise the risks of future problems.
Our experienced Foreign Property solicitors provide specialist and friendly advice at what would normally be a stressful time. If you're buying your dream home overseas, we are here to try to make sure that your whole experience is as enjoyable as possible - from the moment you decide to buy, right through to the time you spend at the property long after our work is finished.
IMPORTANT: Don't sign any contract without seeking legal advice first. Once the contract is signed, you could be bound by it even if the terms are unfair or unsafe.
Why use a UK solicitor? Why use Birchall Blackburn?
- Certainty. We offer a fixed fee service, so you know how much it will cost from the very start. Contact us for details of our fees.
- Reputation. Our specialist overseas property lawyers have many years' experience in conducting property transactions abroad. We also have a network of trusted associates in many foreign jurisdictions.
- Convenience. You can speak to us without worrying about the language, the time difference or the cost of international calls. Why go to the trouble of finding a lawyer in the country you are buying in, when you can use someone in the UK?
- Security. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority which has strict rules of conduct. Many legal advisors abroad are not subject to the same type of rules and regulations.
- Insurance. We hold professional indemnity insurance that covers you should anything go wrong because of the advice we give. Many foreign legal professionals are not subject to compulsory insurance and in the event of a problem you would have to take action against them in the foreign courts.
- Convenience on completion. If necessary in the country of purchase, we can arrange for someone to attend the completion of the transaction on your behalf if you are unable to attend in person. An additional charge is payable in these circumstances.
See our overseas property website for more information.
There have been many horror stories of people buying their dream homes only to later find they do not even own the property, there are debts registered against it or it was built without planning permission. If this happens to you and you've arranged everything yourself, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Avoid this by instructing solicitors who can remove the stress by explaining the purchase procedure to you in terms that you understand.
We check title to the land and ensure that all necessary permissions and licences have been correctly obtained, review the preliminary contract, consider whether amendments are needed in order to safeguard your interests and review the final conveyance documentation before legal title is passed to you.
In addition to our fixed fee purchase service we advise on all aspects of buying and selling overseas property. Graham Hughes, in particular, has extensive experience in matters relating to forign wills and inheritance rules in a number of foreign legal jurisdictions.
For further information, email our Foreign Property Team or telephone on 0161 238 5634.
Birchall Blackburn - a law firm with solicitors who specialise in foreign property and overseas conveyancing.