
According to the Oxford English dictionary, ‘Conveyancing is the branch of law concerned with the preparation of documents for the conveyance of property.’
Conveyancing is the legal process involving the transfer of property ownership from one person to another. But, like most people, you’re probably wondering how the process works, how long it will take and how much it will cost.
There are two major phases of conveyancing; exchange and completion. Lots of work goes into the process before these stages, which can often mean the whole process can take a number of weeks or months to complete.
So you’ve finally found the house of your dreams, but whether you’re getting your foot on the property ladder or moving into your forever home, the buying process can feel overwhelming. A conveyancing firm will be the final party in the moving process who will transfer the ownership of your chosen property to you from the previous owner.
Why do I need a conveyancer when buying a home?
The conveyancing process starts once your offer on a house has been accepted and ends once your ownership is registered at the Land Registry. As soon as you have confirmation that your offer has been accepted, you will need to get started on the legal work that is involved in transferring ownership of a home. This is where a conveyancer comes in.
Who does the conveyancing?
Unless your mortgage provider stipulates a specific firm, it is up to you who you get to do our conveyancing. While all solicitors will be qualified to undertake this type of legal work, not all will be experienced in this area. So it makes sense to opt for a conveyancing expert that specialises in residential property transactions or to go with a dedicated licensed conveyancer. Licensed Conveyancers are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers and solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Conveyancing Costs
Buying property is an expensive business, but the good news is that you needn’t pay a fortune for your conveyancing. Costs vary and depend on the value of the property.For more detailed information on this, take a look at our guide to conveyancing fees.
To get an up to date and competitive quote please contact us. This amount will include the cost of the conveyancer’s time and the fees for registering with the Land Registry and any searches undertaken. When you receive a quote from us, we will give you a price that includes everything. We don’t have any hidden extras or hide things in our small print. For those buyers who are concerned about a sale falling through and winding up out of pocket, we also offer a no-completion, no fee service.
If you are purchasing your first home, take a look at our first time buyers guide, full of handy information on the steps you can expect to take throughout the journey.