Completion is not the finish line. Once money has changed hands, the buyer's solicitor still has to file the transaction tax return, pay what is due, register the new title, and protect the lender's charge — all within strict deadlines. Miss them and your client can lose their tax relief, their priority, or even their legal estate. These steps are routine in practice but unforgiving on timing, so knowing the rules cold is what keeps a transaction safe.
What this lesson covers:
- Overview of Post-Completion Steps — the core obligations after completion and how you report back to the lender.
- SDLT: Calculation, Filing and Reliefs — how the tax is worked out on a slice basis, the filing deadline, chattels, and first-time buyer relief.
- Surcharges, Mixed-Use Rates and Wales — the additional property surcharge, mixed-use rates, and how LTT differs.
- VAT on Property Transactions — exempt supplies, the option to tax, and transfers of a going concern.
- Land Registry Registration and Priority — the right forms, supporting documents, search priority, and first registration deadlines.
- Company Charges, Leasehold and Discharge — registering charges at Companies House, serving notice on a landlord, and discharging a mortgage.