What is a conveyancing solicitor?
If you’re looking at a property purchase or selling some land, you’ll probably have heard the term conveyancing banded about a fair bit – but do you know what it means and how a conveyancing solicitor could help you?
Let’s take a closer look at the legal aspects and process behind a property transaction…
What is property conveyancing?
Put simply, ‘conveyancing’ relates to all the legal and administrative work required to transfer the ownership of property from one person to another. The conveyancing process starts from the moment an offer is accepted and only ends when all legal documents have been signed during the exchange of contracts, and money has been transferred.
It includes arranging property searches, liaising with the other party’s solicitor and estate agent, registering the new owner on the Land Registry and title deeds, and more.
What does a conveyancing solicitor do?
A professional conveyancer, or conveyancing solicitor, is someone who will act on your behalf during the sale or purchase of property to make sure you meet all your legal obligations and that your rights are protected during the transaction.
Any qualified solicitor or paralegal can carry out conveyancing work, but it is usually recommended to opt for an experienced conveyancing solicitor. This will be someone who specialises in the field – like our experienced team here at GD Property Solicitors.
How can a conveyancer help me?
The first question you might be asking yourself is, do I need a licensed conveyancer? Couldn’t you just do it yourself? The honest answer is that legally, yes, you could – but it is a complicated and time-consuming task and one that can very easily go wrong.
Specialist knowledge of the legal process and property law is often needed and a mortgage lender insists on professional conveyancing services being used.
So, unless you are extremely experienced in buying and selling property, engaging the help and expertise of a highly qualified conveyancing solicitor is always advised. Not only will this protect you from any potentially costly pitfalls and complications, but it will also save you vast amounts of time and stress.
What do solicitors check when buying a house?
A conveyancer will progress property transactions on your behalf, keeping things moving while you get on with your day job! One of the first things they will do for you during the conveyancing process is carry out property searches with the relevant local council and utility companies to uncover things such as:
- Local building plans
- Where sewer lines run
- Any potential flood risks
- Financial liabilities left by previous owners
They will also advise you on stamp duty land tax and thoroughly check contracts from the seller’s or buyer’s solicitor, assist with ensuring all fees are paid and that ownership is transferred to the correct name with the Land Registry.
How much do conveyancing solicitors cost?
Here at GD Property Solicitors, we pride ourselves on offering excellent legal services at fair prices. The cost of the conveyancing process is usually dependent on the value of the property involved in the transaction. For a clear idea of price, we offer a free instant online quoting service – with no obligation – that breaks down our costs.
How long does conveyancing take?
The amount of time it takes for a legal professional to complete the conveyancing process depends on several factors, including both party’s response time, the circumstances surrounding the property and the current property market situation.
A general estimate for a property sale to go through is around 10 weeks. In terms of a property purchase, it can take a little longer – usually up to 24 weeks.
The conveyancing process becomes more complicated when any of the below occurs:
- If a chain is involved
- Leasehold properties
- Using other funds to purchase, like a Lifetime ISA or gifted deposit
- Buying a probate property
- Delays in response from either party
Choose GD Property Solicitors to organise your property ownership
So, what is a conveyancing solicitor? Hopefully, we’ve answered this question for you so you better understand the conveyancing process.
Now you’re clear on what a conveyancing solicitor is and how they help you during a property transaction, why not get in touch to see what we can help you with?
You could also check our reviews to see why other people would recommend speaking to our conveyancing solicitors.
We’ll be happy to answer any questions you may still have about the conveyancing process and talk to you in detail about how we can help. Contact us on 0161 710 1786 or email info@gdlegal.co.uk.