Real-estate law questions answered

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from a seller to a buyer. It is crucial because it ensures that the buyer receives a valid, unencumbered title to the property, free of outstanding debts, structural compliance issues, or planning boundary disputes. A solicitor manages the contract negotiations, title reviews, and financial transactions to protect your investment.

On average, a standard residential property transaction takes between 8 and 12 weeks from the time sale terms are agreed upon. However, delays can occur if there are complexities in the chain of sales, missing planning documentation, outstanding land registry queries, or delays in securing final mortgage approval from lenders.

When purchasing property, you must budget for several costs beyond the purchase price. These include professional solicitor fees, stamp duty (typically 1% of the purchase price for residential properties up to €1 million), Land Registry fees, search fees, and structural survey costs. We provide a transparent breakdown of all expected fees before commencing work.

Boundary disputes are usually resolved by comparing physical land boundaries with the official Land Registry maps. We work alongside professional land surveyors to establish physical and legal boundaries. If a dispute cannot be resolved through amicable negotiation, we can represent your interests in court to seek a formal declaration of your property rights.

Freehold means you own the building and the land it stands on outright. Leasehold means you own the property for a set period (often 99 or 999 years) but not the land itself, which is owned by a landlord. Leaseholds are common in apartment complexes and commercial developments, and often require annual ground rent or service charges.