The British Finance

Mortgages and Property

Buying, moving and what homes really cost.

  • Leasehold vs Freehold: What the Difference Means for You

    Freehold and leasehold ownership explained: ground rent, service charges, lease length, mortgage rules and the questions to ask before you make an offer.

    Written by

    The British Finance Editors
    Modern red-brick apartment building with balconies photographed from below against a turquoise sky.

  • Conveyancing Terms to Know Before You Buy

    Plain-English definitions of the conveyancing terms buyers meet between offer and completion, from searches and chains to gazumping and leasehold.

    Written by

    The British Finance Editors
    Row of historic town houses with tiled roofs and sash windows beneath an overcast sky

  • How Much Does It Really Cost to Buy a Home?

    Beyond the deposit: the upfront costs of buying a UK home, covering stamp duty, conveyancing, surveys, mortgage fees, removals and set-up.

    Written by

    The British Finance Editors
    Front door of a brick house with wisteria climbing around the entrance and stone steps leading up to it.

  • Buying a Home: What to Do and When

    A stage-by-stage timeline of buying a home in the UK, from agreement in principle to exchange and completion, with what happens at each step.

    Written by

    The British Finance Editors
    A pink wooden house with turquoise shutters, white decorative porch railings and the house number 917.