Conveyancing FAQs: All You Need To Know

Licenced conveyancers are lawyers who specialise in all aspects of residential property conveyancing transactions. They are regulated by the Council of Licenced Conveyancers.

In simple terms, a conveyancer is a person legally trained to provide advice and information regarding the buying and selling of property and/or land. Once formally instructed by a client who wishes to sell, a conveyancer will obtain registered or on occasion unregistered title deeds, create draft contracts and compile a pack which includes the seller’s answers to specific questions about the property. This ‘sellers pack’ will then be sent to the buyer’s solicitor for review.

Once formally instructed by a client who is buying, a conveyancer will receive the aforementioned pack and review the documents within ensuring they raise any enquiries necessary that establish good legal title. They will also order searches on the property and communicate with mortgage lenders, if applicable to ensure mortgage funds are released in time for the day of completion.

You should always work with licensed conveyancers such as AVRillo conveyancing who are rated as the top residential conveyancing solicitors in Yorkshire.

Several other aspects are in the conveyancer’s hands to help clients through the process; these include, but are not limited to paying deposits, paying stamp duty land tax and registering the buyer on the property post completion. For a client the more exciting part of conveyancing may be agreeing a date to complete as this is the day when they will finally get the keys to the house and move in (or out as it may be). Once a date is agreed between a seller and a buyer, a conveyancer will put everything in the transaction in order making sure they hold all signed documents, deposit and confirmation funds will be released by the mortgage lender then move to exchange of contracts.

Exchange is the legally binding part, meaning neither party can pull out without possible implications. So many clients rest assured that their moving date is set in stone. On the day of completion, a conveyancer will then call and confirm to their client that they can collect their keys and move in. At this point congratulations and celebrations are in order!

Is a Licensed conveyancer a solicitor?

No. Both Licenced conveyancers and solicitors are lawyers. However, the methods of qualifications are different. Generally, solicitors are trained in a wide spectrum of practice areas whereas a Licenced Conveyancer deals with conveyancing transactions only. In addition, Solicitors are not regulated by the Council of Licenced Conveyancers but instead by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority. In conveyancing, the majority of practitioners tend to be either conveyancing solicitors, Licenced Conveyancers, Chartered Legal Executives or paralegals.

To become a licenced conveyancer, the CLC exam course must be undertaken alongside evidence to the council of Licenced Conveyancer that the candidate has developed enough skills and knowledge to qualify. This is done by way of examinations and evidence of the experience the candidate has accumulated, often in their practice as a paralegal.

Should I choose a Licenced Conveyancer or Conveyancing Solicitor?

You should choose the lawyer best suited to your needs irrespective of whether they are a licensed conveyancer or a solicitor. Both have the expertise to assist you with your transaction. Typically lay people often assume that they need a solicitor to deal with all their legal needs. This is certainly not the case and the legal profession is open to a range of different lawyers practising, a solicitor being only one of them.

I have seen conveyancing solicitors who have been trading for decades. How can a national firm compete with that?

 While some high street firms will have been practising for a long time, it is vital as a client to consider whether this actually benefits you. The law is constantly changing, and so are the conveyancing practices to meet your needs. You may be lucky and this well established firm may have some processes in place which will help meet your needs but in reality they will be under-resourced and lack the technological advancements of a national firm that has the finances to develop systems. If you want a fast and efficient service to get the conveying done with little disruption to your normal daily life then a national firm will suit you best. If you are looking for a slower paced firm that you need to attend the office and struggle with technology a conveyancing solicitors firm would be better for you, as it is likely you would be able to pop in as and when you need.  Both firms will ultimately be able to give you the expert advice but the national firm will be able to do it with speed and less disruption to your life with the use of technology

What to look for in conveyancing quotes?

 It can be difficult when looking for a conveyancer as this needs to be a trustworthy and efficient person to facilitate a potentially life changing transaction. When you receive a conveyancing quote from a firm, review this carefully and make sure you understand what is within the conveyancing quote you’re provided. It can be difficult to navigate away from the firms which offer very cheap deals however when you look at their conveyancing quote and it seems too good to be true, it normally is.

If you’re selling or buying under specific circumstances, make this clear from the outset. For example if you’re selling under probate or a power of attorney, tell them as this could alter your conveyancing quote dramatically. All final costs will not appear in your initial conveyancing quote because there are always disbursements, additional work costs etc to be included which will be in your final completion statement at the end.

When it comes to comparisons of conveyancers and their quotes it is also advisory to search them online and read reviews. You can obtain insight into other clients’ transactions and potentially avoid a stressful experience.

Can someone help me with obtaining a conveyancing quote?

When you think you have found the conveyancer for you, give them a call and speak to their new business/client care team. This will be the team to provide you with a conveyancing quote for their firm. You can advise them of your transaction and the basics and they should be able to talk you through their process and answer any questions you have.

Our advice: Don’t go with the cheapest conveyancing quote you find. As mentioned above, if it seems too good to be true, it normally is.