Buying, Selling &
Development Projects
Property projects can be transformational for charities and faith-based organisations — enabling growth, unlocking funding or creating new opportunities.
They can also feel daunting for trustees and leaders. We provide clear, practical support at every stage — from initial advice through to completion.
We Support Charities On
Property project services
Buying property for charitable use
Acquisitions of buildings and land for mission or community use. We guide trustees through the legal process, manage risk and ensure transactions complete efficiently.
Selling or disposing of charity property
Sale of surplus or legacy property, linked reinvestment projects, and careful trustee support throughout the disposal process.
Development and redevelopment
Change of use, community-focused projects, funded developments. We advise on structuring, documentation and risk management.
Structuring projects and future use
Phased occupation, linked leases and licences, documentation review. Ensuring your project is structured to support your charitable activities long-term.
What we do not advise on
We do not advise on charity law regulation, Charity Commission consents, or constitutional matters. Where specialist charity regulatory advice is required, we will identify this early.
Fees and affordability
Clear fee estimates, fixed or staged fees where possible, and early identification of cost risks. See our Fees & Pro Bono page.
Client Experiences
What Charities & Trustees Say
“PDA Law guided our trustees through the sale of a redundant church building and the acquisition of a new community hub. They understood the Charity Commission requirements, the trustee obligations and the practical pressures we faced — and delivered a smooth transaction on time.”
Trustees, North West Church
Property disposal & acquisition, Chester area
* Details anonymised to protect client confidentiality. Experiences reflect genuine client engagements.
Free Resource Guides
Download our free guides for charity trustees — including the lease checklist and SDLT guide (charities are exempt from Stamp Duty Land Tax).
8 pages · Free Guide
Trustee Guidance Notes
Duties, responsibilities & decision-making
A practical reference guide for charity trustees covering their core legal duties, decision-making obligations, Charity Commission requirements and how to protect themselves from personal liability.
- Core trustee duties under the Charities Act 2011 (as amended by the Charities Act 2022)
- Key changes introduced by the Charities Act 2022: easier disposal of charity land, relaxed trustee benefit and payment rules, and simplified merger procedures
- Acting in the best interests of the charity
- Managing conflicts of interest
- Trustee decision-making and resolutions
- Charity Commission reporting obligations
- Personal liability — when trustees are at risk
- Property transactions: what trustees must do
5 pages · Free Guide
Charity Lease Checklist
Before you sign — key points for trustees
A step-by-step checklist for charity trustees reviewing or negotiating a lease. Covers the key clauses to check, the questions to ask your solicitor, and the trustee resolutions required before exchange.
- Lease term, break clauses and renewal rights
- Rent review provisions and frequency
- Repairing obligations — full repairing and insuring leases
- Alterations and fit-out rights
- Assignment and subletting restrictions
- Charity Commission consent requirements
- Trustee resolutions before exchange
6 pages · Free Guide
SDLT & Stamp Duty Guide for Charities
Charities are exempt from Stamp Duty Land Tax
A clear guide to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) for charities. Charities are exempt from SDLT on property purchases where the property is held for charitable purposes — this guide explains the exemption, how to claim it and the conditions that apply.
- What is Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)?
- The charity SDLT exemption — how it works
- Conditions for claiming the exemption
- What "held for charitable purposes" means
- Mixed-use properties and partial exemption
- How to claim the exemption on your SDLT return
- Clawback provisions — when the exemption is lost
Your Specialist Solicitors
Paul D'Ambrogio
Founding Director & Solicitor
Paul D'Ambrogio is the founding Director of PDA Law with 30 years' experience as a qualified solicitor. He has guided clients through an extraordinary range of legal matters — from individuals seeking straightforward advice to charities for whom PDA Law has become an integral part of their mission. Paul understands that clients are not merely paying for legal services — they are people with real problems, reaching out for help at some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
Ana Pestana
Solicitor — Commercial Property
Ana is a commercial property solicitor with several years' post-qualification experience advising institutional investors, developers, landlords, tenants, lenders and corporate occupiers on transactional and advisory real estate matters. She brings a thorough, commercially minded approach to every instruction, ensuring clients receive clear, practical advice at every stage of their transaction.
Get in Touch
Make an enquiry
Tell us about your property project. We will review your details and be in touch within one working day.
Related Charity Legal Services
Financing & Equity Release
Secured lending, refinancing and equity release to support capital projects.
Property & Land
Full property and land services for charities and faith groups.
Leases, Licences & Occupation
Leases, licences and occupation arrangements for charities.
Speak to a charity property solicitor
Practical support for charity property projects — costs explained clearly before any work begins.
No obligation — talk through your options first. Clear fees confirmed in writing.