Conveyancing – using solicitors when buying a property
Buying a house can be stressful. If this is your first time, the number of legal requirements (and costs that keep appearing!) can be a big surprise. So, what about using solicitors for buying a property? Is that absolutely necessary?
Unfortunately, yes. Or, to be more accurate, it’s not a legal requirement. But for most people, your mortgage lender will probably insist on it. It’s also something that’s pretty foolish to proceed without.
To be connected to a specialist solicitor near to where you live, please either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry.
Because in the UK, the law on property purchases is essentially “buyer beware”. If something goes wrong, it’s on you. To make sure nothing does from a legal angle, you really do need specialist solicitors:
Why Do I Need Solicitors For Buying A Property?
Sometimes through no fault of their own, the kind of solicitors you need for buying a property have managed to attract a not wholly positive reputation. However, they play a key role in ensuring that you stay legally protected while a property purchase goes through.
Even if you wanted to risk buying a property without any legal representation, there is one thing that usually prevents even the most gung-ho of people from going ahead. That thing is mortgage lenders.
Most mortgage lenders won’t lend to you if you don’t have professional legal representation.
What Type Of Solicitors Do I Need To Buy A House?
The type of solicitors you need to buy a house are called “conveyancers”. However, it’s important to note that not all licensed conveyancers are also qualified solicitors.
This is an important distinction. Because non-solicitor conveyancers are not qualified to offer legal advice or handle a range of other situations that may crop up in the process of buying a property.
Do I Get A Solicitor Or A Mortgage First?
Because mortgage lenders won’t lend if you don’t have legal representation, you will need to instruct a solicitor first.
This doesn’t have to be difficult though. Solicitors Near Me can find you just the right friendly and approachable expert for FREE and with no commitment to use them. Simply give us a call on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry to let us know what you need.
Once your solicitor is on board, they can start engaging with key tasks like getting your mortgage valuation, property surveys, carrying out the required searches with your new Local Authority and many others, and drafting and reviewing contracts.
How Long Does Conveyancing Take?
The average conveyancing process takes between six and twelve weeks. However, this can vary dramatically based on:
- Searches – how quickly the results of the required searches come back (numerous organisations need to be contacted for information).
- Mortgage offers – it can be very quick or take a great deal of time to secure a mortgage offer.
- Chain – a huge complication in the conveyancing process occurs when there is a chain of property sales and purchases that all rely on one another going ahead.
Of course, being intellectually aware that all of these issues crop up through no fault of the solicitors you are using to buy a home does not prevent them from being assigned blame when something goes wrong.
We’ve found that the best thing to look for when choosing a conveyancing solicitor is a commitment to good communication. Because the worst thing is being left in the dark. If your solicitor keeps you fully informed, you tend to feel less like the process is taking forever.
How Much Do Solicitors Charge For Buying A Property?
Solicitors’ fees for conveyancing vary a great deal depending on the part of the country you live in (London tends to be the most expensive, of course). Different solicitors also charge for their services in different ways.
The best option is usually to find a fixed fee service. The average for this could be anywhere from £800 to well over £1500 possibly with VAT on top. If you need any legal work completed over and above the ordinary, additional fees may be added.
In short, it’s worth getting a clear quote before you decide to use any particular conveyancer to be sure exactly what you’re getting as part of your service.
How Do I Find The Right Solicitor When Buying A Property?
There are a lot of conveyancers out there. Choosing which is the best for your particular needs can be a chore in and of itself.
That’s where Solicitors Near Me comes in. Our founder is a former solicitor who understands how annoying and time-consuming it can be to find the best legal expert for your needs.
Let us find you a suitable and helpful solicitor that meets your requirements for FREE and with no obligation to use them if you don’t hit it off.
To be connected to a specialist solicitor near to where you live, please either call us now on 0845 1391399 or complete a Free Online Enquiry.