Conveyancing, a Full Comprehensive Guide

‘Conveyancing’ refers to the legal process of transferring a property or piece of land from one owner to another. There are normally two steps to the process: exchange of contracts, when the contract details are agreed upon; and completion, when the legal titles are passed over. It can be done either by a general solicitor or a conveyancer – a solicitor who has chosen to specialise in property law or the legal work surrounding conveyancing.

A draft contract is drawn up by the seller when an offer is made on a property. This contract must include various details including the price, the boundaries, planning restrictions, among other things. This contract must also include a completion date for the transaction and an energy performance certificate.

Although the paperwork can be daunting, it's important to go through the contract extremely carefully and negotiate any terms if necessary. Your solicitor or conveyancer will be able to help you with this and offer sound guidance. A conveyancer will also conduct several searches and checks on the property.

You probably want to choose a conveyancer who is familiar with your area. Most people also want to instruct someone who comes recommended. It’s important to remember that solicitors’ fees can be expensive so you should always check the likely cost before you instruct a conveyancer.

Make sure that you understand exactly how the fee system works. Some firms for example do not charge if the sale falls through, which could save you hundreds of pounds in legal fees.