Dorset’s picturesque countryside, Jurassic Coast, delightful beaches, picture-perfect cottages, stately homes, castles, seaside resorts and charming towns make it a magnet for property-buyers.
Whether you are looking to move into the county or within its boundaries, or buy a second home there is no substitute for expert advice when it comes to completing high-end property transactions without stress.
Here, Caroline Doman, Head of Residential Property, and Sarah Dunlop, Head of Agricultural and Commercial Property, at award-winning Dorset law firm Blanchards Bailey LLP offer their advice on key issues for a trouble-free purchase.
- Know what you’re buying – it is the purchaser’s responsibility to ensure any boundaries on plans correspond with actual boundaries. Surveyors can check these. Resolve any issues before exchange of contracts or the process gets complex.
- Stay ahead of the game – sporting rights, such as shooting and hunting, are often sold off separately to land and may be held by another party and cause land use and maintenance issues. Check who holds any sporting rights before exchange.
- Ensure the price is right – don’t forget to add Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) and other additional costs to your purchase price. However, if the property comprises a main house and additional dwellings, our specialists can explore claiming multiple dwelling relief to mitigate your SDLT bill.
- Make a list – if your gorgeous new home is Grade 1 or 2 Listed there are strict rules regarding what works can be carried out. Listed building consent, as well as planning permission, is required – enforcement action over breaches has no time limit.
- Don’t go down the drain – legislation surrounding private drains has changed. In some areas only a modern sewage treatment plant, possibly costing £10,000-plus to install, may comply with discharge rules. Your solicitor should check ground water protection status in searches.
To find out more about how Blanchards Bailey can help you with your property purchase or any other aspects of home buying or selling or agricultural property matters, don’t hesitate to contact Caroline Walton by email caroline.walton@blanchardsbailey.co.uk or Sarah Dunlop by email at sarah.dunlop@blanchardsbailey.co.uk or on 01258 488205.
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01258 459361