I have a 50% stake in a house. There is no mortgage. I plan to buy the other 50%. Is it just a matter of paying the other party, changing the deeds and Land registry info? Could I do this myself easily? Would a solictor automatically charge me for unnecessary searches etc?
Yes you can do it yourself. It is simply a matter of filing out the Land Registry form TR1, getting you and your co-owner to sign it in the presence of a wtiness, paying the stamp duty, and then registering the form at HM Land Registry, and paying the apporpriate fee.
If you get a solicitor to act for you, you can instruct him not to make any of the usual searches.