Virtual law firm serving clients across Ontario
London Ontario Real Estate Lawyer
Amer Ali Law handles residential and commercial real estate closings throughout London, including Downtown London, Old North, Wortley Village, Byron, Masonville, Westmount, White Oaks, Summerside and Lambeth.
Our virtual-first process lets you exchange documents securely, review and sign by video, and receive clear updates without travelling across the city. We manage London-specific tax, utility, title, lender and municipal requirements from agreement to registration.
Local detail
Student housing and an older rental stock make tenancy the defining issue in this market.
Buying a tenanted property means taking on the existing lease on its existing terms. The rent stays what it is, the deposit transfers, and any application already before the Landlord and Tenant Board continues.
If you intend to move in, that has to be dealt with properly and in advance. Ontario’s grounds for ending a tenancy are limited, they carry notice requirements, and in some cases compensation is payable. Agreeing a closing date without addressing it creates a problem you close into.
Properties rented by the room raise licensing, zoning and occupancy questions, and leases often run on an academic calendar rather than a standard term.
London has a deep supply of century homes and post-war housing. Surveys, additions built without permits and encroachments surface more often than in newer subdivisions.
Moving Checklist
Utility accounts do not automatically transfer with ownership. Buyers and sellers should arrange the appropriate start, stop or transfer instructions before closing and retain confirmation from each provider.
Review tax instalments, payment options and account information through the City’s property-tax service.
London Hydro issues one monthly bill for electricity and City water. Open, close or transfer the account for the closing date.
Arrange the account change in advance when the property uses natural gas.
Confirm the collection schedule, Green Bin information and waste rules for the property’s address.
MPAC determines the assessed value used by the City when calculating property tax.
Check whether a property near the Thames River, a creek, wetland, steep slope or floodplain may fall within a regulated area.
Common Questions
No. A purchase in London is generally subject to Ontario Land Transfer Tax, but London does not currently charge a separate municipal land transfer tax. We calculate the provincial amount before closing and confirm whether you qualify for a rebate.
An eligible first-time home buyer may receive an Ontario Land Transfer Tax refund of up to $4,000. The rules consider the purchaser’s (and sometimes a spouse’s) prior ownership of a home anywhere in the world, together with age, Canadian citizenship or permanent-resident status and occupancy requirements.
London property taxes reflect the property’s MPAC assessment, tax class and applicable municipal and education tax rates. On closing, the Statement of Adjustments credits or charges each party for the portion of the tax period during which they own the property, using the tax information available for that address.
No. Ontario title searches, document preparation and registration are completed electronically, while signing can usually be handled by secure video. Amer Ali Law manages the legal closing and London-specific municipal requirements without requiring a routine office visit.
Once your lender issues its mortgage instructions, Amer Ali Law works closely with your mortgage broker and lender to identify and complete the legal and closing conditions required before mortgage funds can be advanced. We review the lender’s instructions, complete the required title and insurance work, prepare and sign the mortgage documents and flag outstanding items early. Your broker and lender remain responsible for underwriting conditions such as income verification, the appraisal and final mortgage approval, so you should respond promptly to requests from both teams.
A property near a river, creek, wetland, steep slope or floodplain may be subject to Upper Thames River Conservation Authority regulation. Those restrictions can affect additions, grading, redevelopment and other work. Buyers should review available mapping and determine whether permits or further investigation are required before any applicable condition expires.
Not simply because the property changed hands. Ontario’s grounds for ending a tenancy are limited and procedural, and getting it wrong is expensive. This needs to be handled before you go firm, not after closing.
Deposits generally transfer to the new owner along with the tenancy, and the obligations attached to them come with it. We confirm what is held and how it is accounted for on closing.
They can be, depending on municipal licensing and zoning. A property rented by the room may need a licence, and the current use does not confirm it is permitted.
