Do you need solicitors for selling a house? Yes – here’s why
Technically you don’t have to use solicitors for selling a house. However, the sums of money and legal aspects involved in selling a property are so high and important that not using a solicitor is more than a little risky.
Because there are many different legal requirements and aspects involved in selling a house. There are several key decisions you need to make. Searches that need to be done. Buyer enquiries to handle. Mortgage obligations – in fact, many lenders won’t work without a solicitor involved.
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.
Here is why you should almost always use a solicitor to help you sell a property and what to have in mind when you do:
Do I Need A Solicitor When Selling A House?
You aren’t legally required to use a solicitor to sell property that you own. Going without a solicitor is sometimes called “DIY conveyancing”. When you see the list of legal tasks a conveyancing solicitor handles for you though, you’ll see why this is said not to be a job for the faint of heart.
In short, while you don’t need a solicitor when selling a house, almost everyone will use one because it is easier – and far safer and more secure from a legal standpoint – to do so.
It is also far from unlikely that other parties involved in the sale might request or require that you use a professional legal representative. These requirements might be posed by:
- Mortgage lenders – providers only tend to lend to buyers and sellers using professional solicitors or conveyancing services.
- Buyer’s solicitors – will sometimes demand that sellers use a solicitor because it means the process will be smoother and you have sound legal advice close at hand so you will be using legal best practices.
- Freeholders in a leasehold purchase – when selling a leasehold property, you might find that the freeholder expects you to use a conveyancing solicitor.
What Does A Conveyancing Solicitor Do For You?
The reason why most people selling property choose to use a conveyancing solicitor is that a lot of legal work is mandatory as part of the sales process. This includes:
- Preparing legal documents – including the contracts, which need to be distributed, and the title deeds, which need to be acquired.
- Negotiation – with the expert property lawyers your buyer will almost certainly have working for them (unless they’re buying without a mortgage perhaps). Your solicitor will also negotiate the final moving date with your buyer.
- Receiving the deposit, final accounts, and settlement – and otherwise handling the monetary side of the process. This will include getting figures for any mortgage resettlement.
- Completing legal questionnaires – sellers are required by law to fill in these often complex documents. Doing so correctly is vital.
- Transferring the deed – after it has been approved and then, finally, handing the deed over.
How Much Are Solicitors’ Fees For Selling A House?
Solicitors’ fees for selling a house in the UK vary a great deal. Here are some of the key points to bear in mind:
- The average solicitors’ fees for selling a home – are around £1000 or a little over.
- The range of fees – could extend from as low as £500 up to around £1500 or more plus disbursements (required payments that are part of the process).
- Factors affecting conveyancing fees for sellers include – the value of the property, the part of the country you are in, and whether it is a leasehold or freehold. Leasehold properties tend to require more work and thus tend to cost more.
- In 2022, the average fees for selling a £250 000 home – were around £1046, up to £1170 for a leasehold.
- In 2022, the average fees for selling a £600 000+ home – were around £1600, up to £1770 for a leasehold.
Find Solicitors For Selling A House Near Me
It’s far from unreasonable that most people baulk slightly at paying solicitors fees for selling a house. However, the legal requirements – and the time and effort involved in meeting them all as well as the risks of failing to do so – mean that most people do use a lawyer.
If you’re struggling to choose the right solicitors for selling a house you own, why not let us find you a specialist for FREE and with no obligation to use their services?
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.
