Why Homeward Legal offers no completion no fee protection

What is a No Completion No Fee policy?

No Completion No Fee conveyancing policies typically cover the solicitor's legal fees, meaning you won't pay for the legal work done if your property purchase or sale falls through. 

But there are important differences to note in between the No Completion No fee policies you can come across depending on the conveyancing firm you choose, and often clients still pay out in cases where:

• Still requiring an upfront deposit or a small fee to cover initial costs that is not refundable.
• Not covering third-party costs like search fees (£379 - £450), survey fees (£500 - £800) or other disbursements (£50 - £100) that must still be paid if the deal fails.
• Binding you to the same solicitor if the sale or purchase doesn't complete, potentially limiting your options for future transactions.
• Not protecting you if you change your mind, or if things go wrong for a second time.

Therefore, while no completion, no fee policies provide some financial protection, they sometimes don't cover all possible expenses and can have hidden conditions that affect their value​.

The Homeward Legal No Completion No Fee policy

By choosing Homeward Legal you don't have to worry about all the above as our conveyancing service covers everything:

No Completion No Fee - If your transaction falls through, you won't have to pay any legal fees, whatever they are.

• Your upfront fee is fully refundable in the event your transaction falls through
• You can change case handler or law firm in the event your situation changes
• There is no limit on the number of times you are protected
• You are protected regardless of cause

Fixed Legal fees - it means that the legal fee we quote you will be exactly what you pay, with no hidden costs for any standard transaction.

SearchPlus Protection - Your second set of searches is covered by us if your purchase fails.

Survey Protection - We also cover surveys the same way, if your transaction doesn't complete, the same survey on your second property is covered by us.

We also work with local conveyancers across the country ensuring the best conveyancing possible for your location. 

You can call us on or run a quick quote online and will be happy to help you.

Why do property deals fall through?

On average there are 31% of transactions that fall through and there can be any number of reasons it might happen. It could be something to do with the property itself, or as a result of an unforeseen change in circumstances for either the buyer or the seller.

Why might a buyer pull out of a property deal?

Buyers rarely want to withdraw just because they have changed their minds. But they may have to do so if:

• They are relying on the sale of their own property to release funds, and that deal falls through.
• There is a major problem with the seller's title or if the searches and enquiries throw up an unexpected piece of information.
• It's found that the person trying to sell the property does not actually own it, or does not own all the land the buyer was expecting to purchase.
• The local search reveals that there are plans to build a new road or a large housing development next door to the property, which would substantially affect it.
• A property survey may also reveal unexpected defects. The mortgage lender might then be unwilling to lend the full amount required by the buyer, or will insert a condition in their offer that various works must be completed before the mortgage money is released. If a seller is not prepared to reduce the price or make some agreement regarding necessary works then the buyer will not be able to proceed.

Any of the above can and do frequently happen, which is why it makes sense for buyers to seek No Completion No Fee Conveyancing as well as SearchPlus Protection.

Why might a seller pull out of a property deal?

Of course, sellers can also sometimes pull out, perhaps because:

• They can't find another property to move to.
• The deal on the property they were due to purchase falls through.
• They think they can get a higher price from another buyer.
• A change in circumstances - perhaps in their personal or professional lives - means that it makes more sense for them to stay put.

It's frustrating when a house falls through meaning that the deal can no longer go ahead. Our No Completion No Fee conveyancing services mean sellers are at least protected from losing out too heavily.

What happens if a property purchase or sale falls through?

In England and Wales the courts will not enforce an agreement for the sale of a property unless there is a formal written contract signed by both seller and buyer.

Consequently, anyone can pull out of a transaction at any time until contracts are exchanged.

That rule does offer both parties plenty of flexibility, but it can also prove frustrating if something goes wrong at the last minute. 

Again, with our No Completion No Fee policy and our SearchPlus Protection, you can set the wheels in motion on a deal with that added peace of mind.

Can you get your money back when a house sale or purchase falls through?

You can't recover conveyancing fees from the other party and many conveyancing firms will charge for the work they have done on a case that's fallen through, even if the other party has pulled out.

The costs can be substantial, especially when a deal falls through just before contracts are exchanged.

If a deal collapses early on before the buyer's solicitors have applied for a local search, the search fees may be recoverable.

But neither solicitors nor the local council will be able to refund search fees once the search has been put in hand.

Our No Completion No Fee  conveyancing services and SearchPlus Protection relieve you of the worry that you might have to pay out for recovered services and searches.

Some solicitors may offer guarantees that look similar - but you will have to pay extra for them!

How can you protect yourself when buying or selling property?

You don't want to be stuck with having to pay substantial legal bills if a deal falls through.

Nor do you want to pay out again for new searches when you find another property to buy.

So, it makes sense to have the benefit of Homeward Legal's No Completion No Fee conveyancing and SearchPlus Protection.