What is conveyancing?
Conveyancing refers to all the legal and administrative work associated with transferring the ownership of land or buildings from one person to another. You cannot buy your first home or any other property without going through conveyancing.
When do I need conveyancing?
You need to start the conveyancing process once you’ve had an offer accepted on a property. It ends once the final contracts have been signed and the money has been transferred to complete the purchase.
Who can do my conveyancing?
You can hire a solicitor, property lawyer or a licensed conveyancer to do your conveyancing for you.
All solicitors are qualified to undertake work of this kind, but not all are experienced in it.
We recommend using a solicitor or dedicated licensed conveyancer who specialises in property transactions.
When purchasing a property with a mortgage, your chosen solicitors / conveyancers must be approved by the lender before you instruct them. We’ll check this for you beforehand.
Some lenders offer free conveyancing as part of their mortgage deal.
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How much does conveyancing cost?
This really depends on the value of the property you are buying (even though there is not necessarily any more legal work involved in buying a £3 million mansion than there is with a £100,000 flat purchase).
Conveyancing for an average property purchase generally costs around £850 which includes the charges for the conveyancer’s time, calls and letters, as well as the fees for the council searches and registration with the Land Registry.
You may find you can save money by opting for an online conveyancer, some of whom charge as little as £500.
Why is it important to find a good conveyancer?
- For most people a house purchase is the largest investment they will make in their lifetime.
- An experienced and well respected conveyancer will ensure that the property you’re purchasing has ‘good title’. In layman’s terms, this means that the property you are being sold is what it is claimed to be, and that there are no hidden legal restrictions or limitations associated with it. You might not, for example, want a back garden which also has a public right of way associated with it!
- A good conveyancer should maintain good communication throughout the house sale/purchase process.
- Your conveyancer is indirectly a reflection of you as the buyer or seller. You do not want to be in a position where the other party pulls out before exchange of contracts because your conveyancer has not replied to the other party’s queries in a timely manner.
