Buying a house is a stressful process, and without knowing how everything works, it can seem painfully laborious… and you’re probably asking yourself that all-important question: ‘Do I need a solicitor for conveyancing?’.
Do I Need A Solicitor For Conveyancing?
Most of us rarely deal with solicitors, and the most common time for doing so is when you’re buying, selling, or transferring land or property.
However, you do not have to use a solicitor for conveyancing.
You can also use a licensed conveyancer without being a qualified solicitor.
Licensed conveyancers can operate alone or often they are employed by law firms.
The key difference is that a solicitor is a legal professional.
They are qualified in a wide range of legal services, and they practice as members of The Law Society…
While a conveyancer is a specialist in the legal aspects of property sales and purchases specifically.
They are not qualified to practice in any other area of law.
To be connected to a specialist conveyancing solicitor near to where you live, please either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry.
So, What Happens In The Conveyancing Process?
The conveyancing process begins as soon as you’ve made the decision to buy or sell a house.
It’s over to you to instruct a solicitor or conveyancer after that, so they can begin the legal process of your property purchase or sale.
Following this, the process will work as below:
- Your solicitor or conveyancer will receive a contract and copies of the legal title
- They’ll then raise enquiries and carry out the mandatory searches
- Once the searches have been completed, you can then apply for a mortgage if you’re buying a property
- The lender will carry out a valuation of the property. Once they’re happy with everything, you can proceed with the rest of the process
- Your solicitor or conveyancer will then send all of your important legal documents so you can sign everything
- Then, once your lender has conducted anti-money laundering checks, you’ll be given a date for the completion of the sale and contracts can be exchanged
On the day of completion, the funds will be transferred, and you’ll get the keys to your new property (or complete your sale).
So, Do I Need A Conveyancer Or Solicitor?
Long story short… yes.
There are a lot of legal requirements in a property sale, and your conveyancer or solicitor will handle all of the searches, contracts, and communications during the process.
They’ll deal with the mandatory searches that are required, including:
- Local Authority search – This provides information on planning issues, railway proximity, and road works that may affect your property
- Water and Drainage search – This will reveal whether the property is connected to public sewers and mains drainage
- Environmental search – This will include vital information on whether the land is prone to flooding or if it’s contaminated. And, if there are any environmental issues to be aware of
They might also recommend Coal Mining and Chancel Repair Liability searches, depending on the location and type of property or land, as well as any other things that might affect the value of the property.
Conveyancing fees will differ depending on the value of property/land, the location, the individual law firm/conveyancer, and the searches you’re conducting.
The most important thing is that you’re happy with the legal professional you instruct because buying, selling or remortgaging a property can be a particularly stressful process.
Finding A Conveyancer or Solicitor Near Me…
If you’re looking for a conveyancing solicitor near you, then we’ve got you covered…
To be connected to a specialist solicitor near to where you live, please either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry.
