Trusted legal support every step of the way

Buying a home is one of life’s biggest milestones. Whether you’re stepping onto the property ladder, moving up, or investing in your future, it’s essential that your purchase is handled with care, clarity, and legal precision.

Our Expertise

At BCR, our team of experts provide friendly, professional, and efficient legal advice for residential property purchases in Jersey. From title checks to contract negotiations and completion, we guide you through the process, protect your interests, and help you make confident decisions at every stage.

Our Approach

We will make sure you feel informed, supported, and reassured whether it’s your first home or your fifth.

We assist a wide range of clients, including:

• First-time buyers.
• Growing families moving to larger homes.
• Investors purchasing buy-to-let or second homes.
• Downsizers and retirees.
• Couples buying jointly or with help from family.
• International clients relocating to Jersey.
• High net worth individuals with complex structuring needs.

We tailor our advice to your personal circumstances, budget, and property goals, ensuring nothing is missed and everything is explained clearly.

We support purchases of all residential property types, including:

• Freehold houses and bungalows.
• Flying freehold apartments or maisonettes.
• Share transfer flats and townhouses.
• New builds (from developers or off-plan).
• Inherited or probate property.
• Tenanted property (buy-to-let acquisitions).

We also liaise with planning, tax, and construction specialists where required, especially for development-linked purchases or refurbishment projects.

While each transaction is different, we guide you through the key stages:

Offer and Heads of Terms

Once your offer is accepted:

• The estate agent will prepare Heads of Terms, summarising the price and key conditions (e.g. subject to survey or finance).
• We review these to ensure they are clear and workable.
• We confirm your personal circumstances, whether you're buying alone or jointly, using mortgage finance, or relying on a gifted deposit.

If the property is share transfer or held in trust, we’ll also review the structure, and any additional documentation needed.

Legal Due Diligence

We carry out a full review of the legal aspects of the property, including:

• Title review – checking ownership, boundaries, and any rights or restrictions.
• Planning and building history – ensuring all alterations are properly approved.
• Occupancy rights (for share transfer) or structural reliance (for flying freehold).
• Easements – including rights of way, access, and drainage.
• Co-ownership arrangements or service charge schemes.
• Potential disputes or compliance issues.

We raise pre-contract enquiries with the seller’s lawyer and help you understand any issues that need resolving before you commit.

Financing and Mortgage Support

If you are buying with a mortgage, we:

• Liaise with your lender to satisfy their legal requirements.
• Review your mortgage offer and explain the terms.
• Handle the registration of security.
• Act as your point of contact for any compliance or title queries raised by the lender.

We ensure the legal documentation aligns with your lender’s needs and that funds are available on time for completion.

Contract Review and Signing

Once due diligence is complete and all conditions are satisfied:

• We review and explain the contract of purchase.
• You sign the contract and (if applicable) mortgage documents.
• We arrange for the deposit to be paid (usually 10%).
• We confirm the completion date, which will typically be a Friday.
• For share transfer purchases, we handle the transfer agreement, occupancy documentation, and registration.

Completion and Handover

On completion day:

• We attend the Royal Court on your behalf (for freehold and flying freehold).
• The property is formally transferred and registered in the Public Registry.
• We transfer the balance of the purchase price.
• You receive the keys and access to your new home.
• We confirm all documentation and provide a final completion statement.

For share transfer purchases, we also ensure:

• Share certificates and registers are updated.
• The company secretary is notified.
• Your rights to occupy the unit are formally recorded.

Ongoing Advice and Post-Completion Support

We continue to support clients after purchase, including:

• Recording co-ownership arrangements (e.g. joint tenants vs. tenants in common).
• Advising on alterations or planning applications.
• Acting on future sales or refinancing.
• Liaising with BCR Professional Services Limited for tax structuring or residence planning.
• Supporting on landlord/tenant matters if the property is later let out.

We build long-term relationships with clients and are always available for follow-up advice.

Common Issues We Help Avoid

Our Values in Action

Excellence: In how we investigate, explain, and document your purchase.
Delivery: In meeting deadlines and ensuring everything is in place for completion.
Respect: For your time, goals, and individual circumstances.
Elegance: In making a complex legal process feel calm, clear, and under control.

Why BCR Law

We offer trusted legal support for your Jersey property purchase, from first steps to final signature.

With expert guidance and clear communication, we make sure you feel confident, protected, and fully informed at every stage.