Owning your own home

Find your own, for sure.

Use your own is generally the answer.

Developers sometimes do this because there are certain nuances (such as shared ownership) that not all solicitors will necessarily be au fait with and it's easier to deal with someone who they know has the expertise.

Generally though they've worked out a cosy little deal where they send a lot of work their way and they don't make waves.

Solicitor question... we just got an offer accepted on a new build property but we don’t have a solicitor lined up. The developer are pushing us to use their “independent” recommended solicitor but I feel a little bit sceptical. Is it better to find our own solicitor or use their one?

Use your own, never theirs.

I'd totally recommend https://www.myhomemove.com/ for an online team who can quickly get on top of this.

Always use a reliable recommendation.

Ours was fucking shit soup to nuts.

We went with them as our mortgage broker recommend them and we thought that relationship and his relationship with the bank would all work together.

Instead me and a mate had to look through our old LPC notes to find answers to questions.

The developer are pushing us to use their “independent” recommended solicitor but I feel a little bit sceptical. Is it better to find our own solicitor or use their one?

Are houses built already and being used? Ask people who they used. Might be a residents association too, ask them.

A colleague of mine used the developer’s solicitor buying a flat in a new build. He ended up with one of those leases where the ground rent increases so much over time the leasehold is valueless.