Get expert legal advice from our experienced site conveyancing solicitors when buying or selling land in Northern Ireland.
Land Conveyancing in Northern Ireland
Any property transaction has its complications but deals involving a site can be particularly stressful. When buying or selling land in Northern Ireland, there are several complex issues to navigate. These include planning permission, boundaries, access, drainage, contamination and a host of other possible considerations.
The best way to overcome these obstacles and ensure a hassle-free transaction is to instruct an experienced, local land conveyancing solicitor to guide you. Land conveyancing is similar to property conveyancing, but also covers all the extra legal considerations that arise when buying or selling land.
Our land solicitors provide specialised land conveyancing support to promptly and diligently complete your site purchase or sale.
Our Land Conveyancing Legal Services
We’re members of the Law Society of Northern Ireland Home Charter Scheme. This means our solicitors are committed to surpassing agreed standards for all types of land conveyancing. We have managed the legal processes for a wide variety of land transactions, including residential, agricultural and commercial land deals.
Residential Land
All the support you need when selling or buying residential land. This could be due to a boundary change or dispute, transferring land to family members, or any other residential land transaction. We will protect your interests throughout the transaction and beyond.
Agricultural Land
Expert agricultural conveyancing advice when buying or selling farmland, selling agricultural land for commercial use, or applying for a change of use for agricultural land. Our agricultural land solicitors will help you to maximise the potential of the farmland.
Land for Development or Commercial Use
Legal guidance at every stage when buying or selling land for development or commercial use. Whether you’re planning to build a new development — or sell your land to developers — our commercial property conveyancing solicitors have experience of transactions involving agricultural land, greenfield and brownfield development sites.
Whatever your circumstances, our land conveyancing solicitors always tailor their advice to help you achieve the best outcome when buying or selling land.
How Our Land Conveyancing Solicitors Help You
We’ve served as trusted land conveyancing solicitors in Antrim and Greater Belfast since 1989. In that time, we have successfully handled transactions involving residential, agricultural and commercial sites of all sizes — and we’re here to help you with your transaction. Our approach is to:
- Listen to your circumstances and objectives in a free, no-obligation consultation. We will give free initial advice on the land conveyancing process in easy-to-understand terms.
- Take care of all your land conveyancing needs, including working with the other party’s solicitors, resolving any issues that arise, and protecting your best interests during negotiations.
- Complete your land transaction to your timeline in a swift yet friendly manner. We will be professional and approachable throughout — easy to deal with but focused on the outcomes you need.
Our Land Conveyancing Solicitors
Sean McQuaid
Sean qualified as a Solicitor in 1984 after graduating from Queen’s University Belfast. With over 35 years’ experience, Sean works across all areas of conveyancing, in both residential and commercial property.
Kerry Doran
Kerry is a Conveyancing Solicitor who graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2011. With over 10 years experience, Kerry specialises in all areas of conveyancing, including commercial real estate and property disputes.
For expert legal advice on buying a house, call Sean or Kerry on 028 9446 1509.
FAQs
What costs are associated with selling or buying land in Northern Ireland?
The main costs associated with selling or buying land in Northern Ireland are similar to those associated with buying a house or selling a house.
Apart from the purchase price, the main costs when buying land in Northern Ireland are stamp duty land tax (SDLT), any fees charged by a mortgage provider, any environmental or other surveys conducted and conveyancing costs, such as legal fees and property searches.
When selling land in Northern Ireland, the main costs will be estate agents’ fees, conveyancing costs and capital gains tax.
Whether you’re buying or selling, conveyancing costs will depend on the complexity of the land transaction and whether any exceptional legal work is needed. Contact us for a competitive, transparent quotation, including the cost of any property searches needed and guidance on the conveyancing fees that will apply to your transaction.
What checks should I carry out before buying land?
The main things to check before buying land in Northern Ireland all involve making sure the land is suitable for the way you intend to use it. This includes checking:
- The type of land you are buying. Is it a greenfield or brownfield site and how will this impact your plans?
- Whether you need planning permission. Is planning permission already attached to the site and, if so, does this cover the type of property you want to develop on the land? If not, is planning permission likely to be approved for the site?
- The current use of the site. Will you need to apply for a change of use before you can proceed with your plans?
- That the boundaries are clearly defined. Do you — and others — fully understand the boundaries of the plot you are buying?
Our land conveyancing solicitors will help you to secure definitive answers to all of these questions to protect your investment. Contact us for a free consultation.
Do I need planning permission before buying land in Northern Ireland?
No, you do not need planning permission before buying land in Northern Ireland. But you may want to have planning permission — or at least know that getting planning approval is highly likely — before committing to buying a site.
You can apply for planning permission before buying the land with the consent of the current landowner. But planning consent could drive up the value of the land.
Our land conveyancing solicitors will help you to navigate these complex issues to help you achieve your objectives when buying land in Northern Ireland. Contact us for a free consultation and initial legal advice.
What is the process of land conveyancing in Northern Ireland?
The process for land conveyancing in Northern Ireland is very similar to other types of conveyancing. Typically, the land conveyancing process starts once an offer has been accepted and you instruct a solicitor. You may wish to instruct our land conveyancing solicitors earlier to assess any complications around land use, planning permission, boundaries or other factors.
If you're getting a mortgage, your lender may want to survey the land. You might also want to arrange your own surveys, particularly if there are concerns about contamination or other environmental issues.
Our land solicitors will then carry out all the relevant property searches for the land. This will include local authority searches, enquiries raised with roads service, planning and NI Water, statutory charges register searches and bankruptcy and Enforcement of Judgments Office searches against the vendor. These searches will help to protect your investment.
This will be followed by drafting, reviewing and signing the contract. We will liaise with the other party’s solicitor at every stage to ensure the contract represents your best interests and to keep the transaction progressing to your schedule.
The land transaction can then be completed. We will liaise with the other party's solicitor to finalise a completion date. We will oversee the transfer of funds and a smooth completion process on your behalf, before completing your post-transaction paperwork.
Contact Our Land Conveyancing Solicitors Today
For further information on our land conveyancing services in Northern Ireland, contact us for a free, friendly, no-obligation consultation.
We look forward to hearing from you.
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