How To Choose A Conveyancing Solicitor In The UK

Selecting a conveyancing solicitor can feel daunting, particularly if you’ve never done it before.

Who you choose as a conveyancing solicitor can directly impact how smoothly the conveyancing process goes, so it’s crucial that you carefully consider it before making your choice.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a conveyancing solicitor in the UK:

1. Choosing someone on your mortgage lender’s panel
2. Checking their credentials and experience 
3. Fees 
4. Reviews and recommendations 
5. Local knowledge can help

1. Choosing Someone On Your Mortgage Lender’s Panel

If you’re buying a home with a mortgage, you’ll need to check who is on your mortgage lender’s panel. 

In short, a lender’s panel is a list of approved solicitors authorised to act on the lenders’ behalf. 

You must check your specific lender’s panel as some lenders, such as Nationwide Building Society, only work with approved conveyancing solicitors.

While you can request that they register, not all conveyancers can work with every lender, so this is important to be aware of. 

2. Checking Their Credentials & Experience 

Before selecting a conveyancing solicitor in the UK, it’s important to check their credentials and experience. 

A conveyancing solicitor who’s been practising for several years will naturally have more experience with the conveyancing process than a newly qualified solicitor. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions and research the law firm and conveyancing solicitor in question to determine what experience they have and what qualifications they hold.

This will ensure you’re selecting the best possible conveyancing solicitor. 

3. Fees 

Another factor to consider when choosing a conveyancing solicitor is their fees.

Fees tend to vary depending on the location and reputation of a particular firm. You can find fees listed on many websites or when you inquire.

You should note that opting for the cheapest conveyancer you can find is often not the best solicitor. As such, you should be cautious if the price they’re offering is significantly lower than your research has shown it should be.

You should also make sure that the solicitor you select provides a full breakdown of their fees, as this will ensure all costs are clear and transparent from the start of the conveyancing process.

At Harding Evans, we offer a fixed fee for buying, selling, and remortgaging that is based on the value of the property in question. 

To learn more about our residential property fees, visit our website today. 

4. Reviews & Recommendations 

When choosing a conveyancing solicitor, it’s essential to check reviews and take recommendations into account. 

A great way of evaluating a conveyancing solicitor is to check a firm’s Google reviews to see what previous clients have to say.

If other people can vouch for the service that they provide, then it’s likely that you’re appointing a trustworthy and reliable conveyancing solicitor. 

Generally speaking, the firm in question should have a residential property department and should be able to maintain excellent communication.

Additionally, if friends and family have used a solicitor in the past, they will be able to tell you about their experience honestly. 

5. Local Knowledge Can Help

When selecting a conveyancing solicitor, opting for someone with local knowledge can help. 

While a cheaper solicitor outside the area might seem appealing, if they’re not local to the area, this can have repercussions. 

Choosing a local solicitor means that they specialise in the area you’re buying or selling a property in, and will thus be in the best position to act on your behalf.

A local conveyancing solicitor will also be aware of local developments and news that might impact your property purchase.

Hiring a local solicitor could significantly speed up the conveyancing process.

Can You Change Solicitors Halfway Through Conveyancing? 

The answer to this question is yes, it is possible to change solicitors halfway through the conveyancing process in the UK.

Your new solicitor will be able to contact your old solicitor who was handling your case to get what they need.

That said, it’s important to note that this can have financial implications as you will likely need to pay your previous conveyancing solicitor and this can also delay the conveyancing process.

As such, changing solicitors halfway through the conveyancing process should not be taken lightly.

How We Can Help 

At Harding Evans, our UK conveyancing solicitors can help take the stress away so you can focus on what’s important.

From the moment we receive instruction, right the way through to completion, our conveyancing team will act efficiently, handling all the legalities so that you can concentrate on your move.

Get in touch with a member of the team today.