If you are planning to buy or sell a property in the UK, you will need to appoint a conveyancer or a property solicitor to handle the legal aspects of the transaction. But what exactly is conveyancing, and what does a conveyancer do?
Conveyancing is the process of transferring the legal ownership of a property from one person to another. It involves legal work that includes various steps such as checking the title deeds, conducting searches, drafting contracts, exchanging contracts, transferring funds, and registering the change of ownership with the Land Registry.
A conveyancer is a specialist lawyer who deals with conveyancing and property law. They can advise you on your rights and obligations, liaise with the other party's solicitor, negotiate terms, handle paperwork, and ensure that everything goes smoothly and legally.
What Does a Conveyancer Do?
A conveyancer can help you with buying or selling a property in several ways, such as:
- Checking the title deeds to make sure there are no issues with the ownership, boundaries, rights of way, or covenants that could affect your use or enjoyment of the property.
- Conducting property searches with local authorities, water companies, environmental agencies, and other bodies to reveal any potential problems with the property. This includes planning permissions, building regulations, drainage, flooding, contamination, or subsidence.
- Liaising with other parties in the chain including buyers solicitors, sellers solicitors and when required mortgage lenders.
- Drafting and reviewing contracts that set out the terms and conditions of the sale or purchase, such as the price, completion date, fixtures and fittings included in the sale, and any special clauses.
- Exchanging contracts with the other party's solicitor once both sides are happy with the terms and ready to commit. This is when the transaction becomes legally binding and you pay a deposit (usually 10% of the purchase price).
- Transferring funds on completion day when you pay the balance of the purchase price and receive the keys to your new home. The conveyancer will also pay any stamp duty tax (if applicable) and other fees on your behalf.
- Registering the change of ownership with the Land Registry and sending you the title deeds or confirmation of registration and a completion statement.
By appointing a conveyancer, you can save yourself time, hassle, and stress when buying a property or selling a property. You can also avoid costly mistakes or disputes that could delay or jeopardise your transaction.
How to Choose a Conveyancer
When choosing a conveyancer, you should look for someone who is qualified, experienced, reliable, and transparent. You should also compare fees and services from different firms before making a decision.
Some of the factors to consider when choosing a conveyancer are:
- Qualifications: A conveyancer should be either a solicitor who is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or a licensed conveyancer who is regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). You can check their credentials on their websites or on The Law Society's Find a Solicitor service.
- Experience: A conveyancer should have experience in dealing with similar types of properties and transactions as yours. You can ask them how many cases they have handled in the past year, how long they typically take to complete them, and what challenges they have faced or overcome.
- Reliability: A conveyancer should be responsive, proactive, and communicative throughout the process. You can ask them how they will keep you updated on the progress of your case, how often they will contact you, and how you can reach them if you have any questions or concerns.
- Transparency: A conveyancer should be clear and upfront about their fees and charges. You should ask them for a detailed breakdown of their costs, including any disbursements (expenses paid to third parties such as search fees), VAT, and any additional fees for extra work or services. You should also ask them if they offer a fixed fee or a no-completion-no-fee guarantee.
- Recommendations: A conveyancer should have positive reviews and feedback from previous clients. You can ask them for testimonials or references, or check online platforms such as Trustpilot or Google. You can also ask your friends, family, or estate agent for recommendations.
Get Started with Howells Solicitors
If you're looking for a reputable and affordable conveyancer in the UK, you may want to consider Howells Solicitors. We are one of the leading conveyancing law firms in the country, with over 25 years of experience in helping thousands of clients buy and sell properties across England and Wales. We offer:
- Fixed fees with no hidden costs
- No completion-no fee guarantee
- Dedicated case handlers
- Digital onboarding
- Fast and efficient service
If you're buying or selling a house, new build, flat, apartment, second home, holiday let or any other type of residential property, our multi-award winning conveyancing solicitors can help. We offer a free non-obligatory quote and are happy to answer any related questions.
Please email info@howellslegal.com or phone 02920 404020 to get in touch today.
