Help Centre

Cavendish Knight is a direct property marketplace. Sellers list their own properties and you deal with them directly — no estate agent in the middle. Browse listings, contact the seller, arrange viewings, and make offers all through the platform. You'll still use a solicitor for the legal process.

You don't legally need one, but sellers take you more seriously if you have an Agreement in Principle (AIP). You can get one from a mortgage broker in 24–48 hours. Our verified mortgage brokers can help — see the Partners section.

An AIP (also called a Mortgage in Principle or Decision in Principle) is a statement from a lender saying they would, in principle, lend you a certain amount. It doesn't guarantee the mortgage but shows sellers you're serious. It doesn't affect your credit score if done via a soft search.

Click 'Book Viewing' on any property listing. Choose from the seller's available time slots. You'll receive a confirmation. The seller may message you to confirm details.

Exchange of contracts is when both sides are legally committed — neither can pull out without penalty. Completion is when money changes hands and you get the keys. There is usually a gap of 1–4 weeks between them.

Gazumping is when a seller accepts a higher offer from another buyer after already agreeing a sale with you — but before exchange of contracts. It's legal in England and Wales (but not Scotland). Being first to instruct a solicitor and exchange quickly is the best protection.

On average 12–16 weeks from offer accepted to completion, though it varies. The main delays are usually the conveyancing process, mortgage applications, and chains. Using our verified solicitors who are familiar with the platform can help speed things up.

Yes. Leasehold properties are clearly labelled. Check the lease length — anything under 80 years can be difficult to mortgage and expensive to extend. Our running costs calculator includes a ground rent / service charge field.

Basic listing is free. Enhanced verification (£29) and Premium verification (£79) are one-off payments that improve your listing's visibility and trust score. There is no commission — you keep 100% of your sale price.

Click 'List Property' in the navigation. The listing wizard guides you through 5 steps: property details, photos, description, pricing, and preview. The AI tools can help write your description and analyse your photos.

Our AI Market Intelligence tool in the listing wizard analyses recent sold prices in your postcode area and shows you a suggested price range. You can also use our Instant Valuation tool and check sold prices on the Land Registry.

You'll be notified in your Customer Portal. You can accept, reject, or counter the offer. There is no legal obligation at this stage — both parties can still withdraw before exchange of contracts.

A Rightmove/Zoopla feed export is planned as a paid add-on. Until then, you can list on Cavendish Knight and the major portals simultaneously — there is no exclusivity requirement.

Go to your Customer Portal, click My Listings, and use the Pause or Withdraw option. Paused listings are hidden but your data is preserved. Withdrawn listings are removed permanently.

There are three tiers: Basic (free, email verified), Enhanced (£29, ID document verified within 48hrs), and Premium (£79, ID + address + Companies House check). Higher tiers get a trust badge on your listing and appear higher in search results.

No — Basic tier (free) is sufficient to list. But Enhanced and Premium verified sellers receive significantly more enquiries because buyers trust them more.

Basic: instant. Enhanced: up to 48 hours. Premium: up to 5 business days. You'll receive an email when your verification is approved.

Enhanced verification requires a government-issued photo ID (passport or driving licence). Premium additionally requires proof of address (utility bill or bank statement dated within 3 months).

Go to Tools > Mortgage Calculator. Enter your property price, deposit, interest rate and term. The calculator shows your monthly repayment, total interest paid, and LTV. You can also check affordability using the income multiplier section.

Most lenders use an income multiple of 4–4.5× your annual household income. Our affordability checker in the mortgage calculator gives a quick estimate. A whole-of-market mortgage broker will give you a precise figure based on your full financial picture.

Loan-to-Value (LTV) is the mortgage amount as a percentage of the property price. A £200,000 mortgage on a £250,000 property is 80% LTV. Lower LTV generally means better interest rates — lenders reward borrowers with larger deposits.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is a tax on property purchases in England and Northern Ireland. Rates vary by purchase price and buyer type. First-time buyers pay no stamp duty on properties up to £425,000. Use our Stamp Duty Calculator to get an exact figure.

A mortgage broker compares products from multiple lenders to find you the best rate and deal for your circumstances. Whole-of-market brokers have access to lenders not available on the high street. Our verified brokers offer a free 30-minute consultation.

Yes — conveyancing (the legal transfer of property ownership) must be handled by a qualified solicitor or licensed conveyancer. We have a panel of verified conveyancers who offer competitive rates to Cavendish Knight users.

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from seller to buyer. It involves title searches, raising enquiries, reviewing contracts, exchanging, and completing. It typically takes 8–14 weeks.

Standard searches include: Local Authority (planning, road adoption), Environmental (flood, contamination), Water & Drainage, and Chancel Repair. Your solicitor will advise which are needed for your specific property.

The title register is the official Land Registry record of who owns a property, what mortgage (if any) is registered against it, and any covenants or restrictions. You can download it from gov.uk/government/organisations/land-registry for £3.

Log in to your Customer Portal and click on the Profile & Privacy tab. You can update your name, phone number, email preferences and notification settings.

Under GDPR (Article 20), you have the right to data portability. Go to Profile & Privacy in your portal and click 'Request Data Export'. We'll send you a copy within 30 days.

In the Profile & Privacy tab, scroll to the bottom and click 'Delete Account'. You'll need to type DELETE to confirm. Your data is removed within 30 days, though we may retain transaction records as required by law.

Only with partners you explicitly contact and service providers necessary to operate the platform (e.g. email delivery). We do not sell your data. Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

Toggle 'Marketing emails' to OFF in your Profile & Privacy section, or click Unsubscribe in any marketing email we send.