Links

Provides government policy and actions to encourage consumer dispute resolution without going to court. Click here for more information on ADR.

To help you search more than 3000 UK RIBA Chartered Practices by name, location, area of expertise and services offered, click here to find an Architect.

Useful sites for finding recommended, rated and qualified trades people to work on your property.
Checkatrade
Mybuilder
Ratedpeople
Trustatrader
Which? Trustedtraders

Citizens Advice provides free, confidential and independent advice and are a voice for clients and consumers on the issues that matter to them. Click here for the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

The Property Ombudsman Click here for The Property Ombudsman

• On 06 Feb 2018 the Ombudsman Services for Property (OS:P) advised that after 06 August 2018 they will not be acting as an independent redress provider for Estate Agencies, Residential Lettings, Property Management, Auctioneers, Chartered Surveyors, Surveyors and Valuers (Enquiries function will remain until the end of 2018). After 06 August 2018, another approved provider will be picked to cover complaints in estate agency and lettings. Currently other redress providers are The Property Ombudsman and the Property Redress Scheme (approved like the OS:P).
• You can contact an ombudsman to assist you with your complaint when:
  • The dispute between you and your service provider has not been resolved after giving the company 8 weeks to provide a full response, or
  • You receive a deadlock letter from your service provider informing you that your complaint will not be taken any further.
• Listed below are the main ombudsmen to contact for property-related complaints:
  • The Legal Ombudsman is responsible for dealing with disputes with lawyers and can instruct compensation of up to £150,000, along with payments for interest and unlimited costs. Click here for The Legal Ombudsman.
  • The Energy Ombudsman manages disputes between energy suppliers and their clients, awarding up to £10,000, though largely the amount paid is approximately £100. Click here for The Energy Ombudsman.
  • The Communications Ombudsman independently handles disputes between communication companies that are signed up to their scheme, and their customers, including providers for mobiles, land lines, broadband and pay-tv. Click here for The Communications Ombudsman

Conveyancing is the process to legally transfer a property from one owner to another, by a conveyancing solicitor or licensed conveyancer.
Conveyancers
Moneysupermarket Conveyancing
The Lawsociety

A credit score, or credit rating, indicates the likelihood of you paying back credit. The higher your credit score is the better your chances are of being accepted for credit, and at the best rates. Banks and credit card companies assess your credit history when calculating your credit score and this will show them the level of risk there will be in lending to you.
Clearscore
Experian

An ERC is a penalty payment that is charged by your mortgage provider if you pay off your mortgage earlier than the repayment term agreed. Check with your mortgage provider if this applies to you if you are paying off your mortgage early.

Find a good local estate agent either by word of mouth or by using an online agent finder with reviews. The Which? consumers association is a good place to start.

Which? how to find the best estate agent
Zoopla find agents

Online estate agents can sell your property without using a traditional estate agent and are run through websites and call centres. They offer a more basic service and are able to charge lower fees.
Emoov
Purplebricks
Tepilo

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is a UK trade association established to protect the interests of small and medium-sized building firms, providing knowledge, professional advice and support for its members.
Federation of Master Builders

It is useful to understand what these all mean and how they affect you. A fixture is deemed to form part of the land or building. Chattels are often referred to as fittings, can be removed, and do not pass onto a purchaser when land or a building is sold.
Chattels and Capital Gains Tax
Rics glossary of Fixtures, Fittings & Chattels

Create your own floor plan online or by downloading an app. You can also furnish and decorate them and visualize your home in 3D.
Floorplancreator
ihomeregistry
Roomsketcher

Use Google Maps, Google Earth and Streetview to assess individual properties, streets and neighbourhoods, from street level or from above.
Google Earth
Google Maps & Streetview
Instantstreetview

Search for house prices, property ownership information and sold prices to help find out as much as possible about a specific property or prices in an area.
HM Landregistry
Nethouseprices
Zoopla

Confirm if your property is on the register of national protected historic buildings.
Historic England
British Listed Buildings

When moving home it is important to redirect both your personal and business mail, as well as notify people and organisations of your change of address.
Iammoving
Royalmail business mail redirection
Royalmail personal mail redirection

If you have an emergency that involves gas or carbon monoxide, call the Call the Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999 (UK) /0800 002 001 (Northern Ireland) to report the incident, or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Gas Safety Advice Line on 0800 300 363. Further details can be found on The National Grid Safety and Emergencies.

It is important that the address where you keep your pet is kept completely up to date, so that you can be successfully reunited, if your pet is lost and then found.
https://www.petlog.org.uk/

Planning guides the way our towns, cities and countryside, including the use of land & buildings, the appearance of buildings, landscaping considerations, highway access and the impact that the development will have on the general environment.

Building regulations set standards for the design and construction of buildings to ensure the safety and health for people in or about those buildings. They also include requirements to ensure that fuel and power is conserved, and facilities are provided for people, including those with disabilities, to access and move around inside buildings.

For many types of building work, separate permission under both regimes (separate processes) will be required. For other building work, such as internal alterations, buildings regulations approval will probably be needed, but planning permission may not be.

If you are in any doubt you should contact your local planning authority or a building control body. Click here for the Planning Portal.

Use property search portals to search for properties to buy, sell, rent, those that have sold or for property valuations.
The Land Registry
Nethouseprices
Primelocation
Rightmove
Zoopla

Find out how far your property is from your local schools at Admission day.

Use an online Stamp Duty calculator to confirm how much stamp duty you will need to pay if you live in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales. Click here for a stamp duty calculator.