Which Property Firm Should I Use When Buying in the UK?
Written by: Marcus M. Araz, MBA, PhD · Updated:
One you can verify on official registers in five minutes. In England every firm doing estate agency work must, by law, belong to a government-approved redress scheme (The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress). A mortgage adviser should appear on the FCA register and your solicitor on the SRA register. If those three checks pass and you only send money to your solicitor’s client account, you have already removed the biggest risks.
Who does what, and where to check them
| Role | What they do | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Property adviser | Choosing the project and flat, negotiating the price, reservation, dealing with the developer, following the process | The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress member search |
| Solicitor | Title and contract review, source of funds checks, exchange of contracts, completion, stamp duty return | SRA register or the Law Society’s “Find a Solicitor” |
| Mortgage adviser | Choosing the lender and making the application | FCA register (Financial Services Register) |
| Developer | Builds and sells the new home and provides a 10 year new home warranty | NHBC, Premier Guarantee or LABC Warranty cover; New Homes Quality Code membership |
| Letting and management agent | Finding tenants, collecting rent, maintenance | Redress scheme membership and a Client Money Protection scheme |
Seven questions to ask when choosing a firm
- Which redress scheme do you belong to, and what is your membership number? Membership of The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress is compulsory for estate agency in England. Check the number on the scheme’s website.
- Who gives the mortgage advice? A firm advising on mortgages must be on the FCA register. A firm without FCA authorisation “arranging” a loan leaves you without protection.
- Who chooses the solicitor? You do. Even if you accept a recommended solicitor, check them on the SRA register and get the fee quote in writing.
- Where is the money paid? The reservation fee goes to the developer under a reservation agreement; the exchange deposit and later payments go to your solicitor’s client account. Do not send money to an intermediary’s account.
- Is the total cost in writing? Stamp duty (including the 5% higher rate for additional dwellings and 2% non-resident surcharge for a buyer abroad who owns another home), legal fees, searches and any advisory fee should be in writing before you decide.
- Does the developer provide a new home warranty? On new homes a 10 year warranty (NHBC or similar) both protects you and is a lender requirement.
- Where does the rent figure come from? The yield should be calculated from current rental listings in the same building and nearby, not from the developer’s brochure.
Warning signs
- Last-minute changes to bank details. The most common fraud in the UK is hijacking emails to change the solicitor’s bank details. Before sending money, confirm the account details by phoning your solicitor.
- “Guaranteed yields of 8% or more”. The guarantee is usually built into the price. When it ends, the rent falls to market level.
- A promise to “arrange” finance, with no FCA registration. Only FCA-authorised firms may advise on mortgages.
- The promise that “buying a home gets you residency”. Buying a home in the UK does not give residence rights (details here).
- Time pressure and signing without a solicitor. Even a reservation agreement should not be signed before your solicitor has seen it, and refund terms should be in writing.
How capital.works® answers these questions
For investors from Turkey buying new homes in the UK, we are a firm that meets all seven of these checks.
| Control | Our position | Where you can check |
|---|---|---|
| Redress scheme membership | Member of Property Redress, no. PRS045737 | Property Redress |
| FCA authorisation for mortgages | Authorised credit broker, FRN 1049015 | FCA register |
| Commercial finance broking | NACFB member, no. 39298 | NACFB |
| Data protection registration | ICO registration ZB688691 | ICO register |
| Company registration | YATIRIM UK LIMITED, company no 15028441 | Companies House |
Our portfolio includes close to 100 projects from developers such as Berkeley, Barratt London and Hill that provide 10 year new home warranties. The conveyancing is always handled by an SRA-regulated solicitor. The purchase price never passes through our account: the reservation fee goes to the developer and later payments to your solicitor’s client account. We share our fees in writing before we start (service fees).
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best property firm in the UK? There is no single “best” firm. The right firm has redress scheme membership, FCA registration (if it advises on mortgages), a written fee breakdown, and lets you choose your own solicitor. Ask every firm the seven questions above.
Is it an advantage to use a Turkish-speaking agent in London? Knowing the language and the paperwork in Turkey (source of funds, apostille, power of attorney) speeds things up. But the real advantage comes from the registrations above, not the language; check a Turkish-speaking firm on the same registers.
How can I tell whether a property firm is trustworthy? Check its membership in The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress search, its company registration at Companies House and, if it advises on mortgages, its authorisation on the FCA register. It takes five minutes.
Who pays the property firm’s commission? On new builds the developer usually pays the agent’s commission. On resales the seller pays. If the buyer is charged a separate fee, it should be in writing before work starts.
Do I have to use a solicitor? Yes. In England the transfer of title and source of funds checks are handled by a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, and the buyer needs their own.
Related pages
What do I need to do to buy a home in the UK from Türkiye, Total cost of buying a home in the UK, Can a Turkish citizen get a mortgage in the UK and Is buying in London a good idea.
Sources
For the redress scheme requirement for estate agents see GOV.UK. To check a solicitor use the SRA register, and to check a mortgage adviser the FCA register.
How we help you with this
As capital.works®, the Overseas Property Centre, we represent selected developments in England. There are currently 80 English developments live on the site, each with its price list, floor plans and completion schedule on its own page. We are an FCA authorised credit broker (FRN 1049015) and a member of the NACFB; the purchase, the finance, residency and post completion management are all run by one team.
Legal notice
capital.works® (YATIRIM UK LIMITED) is a real estate advisory company; it does not provide legal or tax advice. The title and contract process is carried out by a solicitor registered in the UK. On the mortgage side, our FCA authorisation applies (FRN 1049015, authorised credit broker).
The next step
Tell us your budget and goal, and we will send projects that fit with their real cost including stamp duty, plus the legal and mortgage process: Contact us.