What are the key qualities to look for in a conveyancer?

You’ll want to look for experience handling residential property transactions (of course), strong communication, attention to detail, proper licensing and insurance, positive reputation and client reviews, clear fees, and accessibility throughout the whole process. An ideal conveyancer be there to support you while ensuring no key legal requirements are missed.

How do I choose the right conveyancer?

You need someone trustworthy with the necessary expertise and qualities. Request quotes from multiple conveyancers to compare fees and services. During initial consultations, evaluate their communication skills, professionalism, and whether you feel at ease working with them. Ultimately, judging them on price isn’t always the best strategy, choose a conveyancer who makes you feel comfortable and confident.

How much will conveyancing cost?

You can expect to pay between £800 - £2,000 for your conveyancing fees. Although this is typical pricing, the exact amount varies on which conveyancer you choose and your property transaction.

How long does conveyancing take?

Conveyancing can take anywhere from 12 – 24 weeks typically. But keep in mind that your journey could be shorter or longer than this. There are a lot of moving pieces that affect the conveyancing timeline .

When do I need to hire a conveyancer?

You should hire a conveyancer as soon as your offer on a property has been accepted, or when you accept an offer on your property sale. Engaging a conveyancer as early as possible means your transaction can be moved along sooner, this helps to prevent delays and ensure a smooth journey.

How to choose a conveyancing solicitor

Find out how to choose the right conveyancer for your property transaction and what qualities to look for.

Last updated 24 Dec 2025

Key takeaways

Conveyancers and solicitors both handle property transactions effectively for standard purchases and sales

Ensure your conveyancer is on your mortgage lender's panel to avoid extra fees of £200-300

Compare multiple quotes carefully and watch for hidden costs in cheap offers

Read independent reviews to understand real experiences with communication and service quality

Choose regulated firms with modern technology like online tracking and digital processes

How to pick a conveyancer or solicitor

When you’re buying or selling a property, you’ll need to choose a conveyancer or solicitor to handle the legal work. This decision directly impacts how smooth your property journey is.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or have had experiences with conveyancers before, knowing what to look for is essential. With fees varying widely and service quality differing dramatically between firms, choosing the wrong conveyancer can cost you time, money, and stress.

Here’s what to consider when picking a conveyancer:

Mortgage lender’s panel: Check that the conveyancer you choose is on your lender’s panel.
Customer reviews: Reviews will give you a realistic overview of their service quality and previous experiences.
Clear pricing: Does the pricing include everything without any hidden fees?
Are they regulated: By either the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
How they work: Modern processes and technology can help create a seamless process.

You’ll need to instruct a conveyancer or solicitor as soon as you’ve agreed an offer to get the legal process started.

What’s the difference between a conveyancer and solicitor?

For standard residential property transactions, there's little practical difference between a conveyancer and solicitor. Both are fully regulated and follow the same conveyancing processes.

Licensed conveyancers specialise exclusively in property law, while solicitors have broader legal training and can handle complex disputes or court representation.

Learn more:

What’s the difference between a conveyancer and solicitor?

1. Check your conveyancer is on your mortgage lender’s panel

If you’re getting a mortgage, your conveyancer must be on your lender’s panel. Mortgage lenders only work with pre-approved conveyancers who meet their requirements.

Using a conveyancer who isn’t on your lender’s panel means you’ll need to pay for separate legal representation for the bank – typically around £200 to £300 in additional fees.

Before picking a conveyancer, ask which lender panels they’re on and confirm they can act for your specific provider.

If you haven’t chosen a mortgage lender yet, selecting a conveyancer who’s on multiple panels gives you more flexibility when shopping for your mortgage.

Check out mortgage panel list here.

How to choose a conveyancing solicitor

Find out how to choose the right conveyancer for your property transaction and what qualities to look for.

How to pick a conveyancer or solicitor

What’s the difference between a conveyancer and solicitor?

1. Check your conveyancer is on your mortgage lender’s panel

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