A conveyancer is simply a legal professional that specialises in the transfer of property from one person to another. What they do is handle contracts, conduct property searches, and ensure that all legal requirements are met. Importantly, conveyancers can be either licensed conveyancers or conveyancing solicitors.
They typically work in law firms, specialist companies, or independently. At Compare My Move, we connect you with trusted, verified conveyancers so you can compare options and make the best choice for you.
Ideally, you should start getting a conveyancer involved when you're ready to make a serious offer on a property or when you've decided you want to sell.
Here, we explain everything you need to know about conveyancers — what they do, how they differ from solicitors, and how to choose the right one for your property transaction.
What Even is Conveyancing?
Simply, conveyancing is the process of transferring ownership of a property from one person to another. This includes buying and selling, remortgaging, and extending a lease on a property.
Why Hire a Conveyancer?
One of the primary advantages is their expert knowledge of property law and the conveyancing process. A conveyancer can navigate the complex legal landscape, ensuring that all necessary steps are taken at the right time, so you don't encounter any issues.
Conveyancers also offer valuable advice on various aspects of the transaction, including dealing with mortgage lenders and identifying potential legal issues. Their expertise can help prevent costly delays and complications, ensuring that the process moves forward efficiently.
Additionally, hiring a conveyancer can lead to cost savings. They can identify and resolve issues promptly, reducing the risk of unexpected expenses. By handling all the legal paperwork and negotiations, conveyancers allow you to focus on other aspects of the property transaction.
What Does a Conveyancer Do?
As soon as you instruct your solicitor, they'll start managing the legal process of transferring property ownership. Their main tasks are:
Drafting and Negotiating Contracts
If the contract is incorrect, they will make the necessary changes and negotiate terms on your behalf. Your conveyancer or solicitor will ensure outstanding documentation is signed and returned to help prevent delays in the conveyancing process.
Conveyancing Searches
Conveyancing searches provide information about the property and its surrounding land. They will arrange these searches on your behalf before you exchange contracts to ensure there are no legal issues with the property.
Exchange of Contracts
The exchange of contracts when buying or selling a property is what makes the transaction legally binding. This includes reviewing the contracts, ensuring they are signed, organising the exchange, confirming mortgage offers, and handling relevant deposits.
Property Transfer Completion
The completion date of the property transfer marks the end of the conveyancing process. Your solicitor or conveyancer will work hard to ensure everything is completed correctly so the completion day runs smoothly.
Complete Stamp Duty & Land Registry Updates
Your conveyancer will pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax or Land Transaction Tax on your behalf if required and will submit the new property ownership documentation to the Land Registry.
How Much Does Hiring a Conveyancer Cost?
The cost of hiring a conveyancer in the UK is usually between £800 – £1,750.
This fee covers core services such as drafting contracts, managing legal documents, liaising with all parties, and guiding you through to completion.
Important: This does not include disbursements — third-party costs your conveyancer pays on your behalf, such as searches, Land Registry fees, and Stamp Duty administration.
Conveyancer vs Solicitor: What's the Difference?
Both conveyancers and solicitors are qualified to carry out property transactions, but they differ in training and when they’re best used.
Licensed Conveyancer
Conveyancers are only specifically trained in property law and must be licensed and regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). They’re often more affordable and efficient for straightforward property sales or purchases.
Conveyancing Solicitor
Conveyancing solicitors are trained in other areas of law in addition to property law. Their broader legal training allows them to handle transfer of equity, lease extension and complex legal issues that fall outside of property law.
They can be regulated by either the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Law Society of Scotland (LSS), Law Society of Northern Ireland (LSNI) or the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).
Which Should You Use?
If your property transaction is straightforward, either a conveyancer or solicitor are suitable, but we recommend going with a conveyancer to save money.
However, for more complicated transactions, like unusual ownership structures or legal disputes, a solicitor is the safer choice.
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How to Choose the Right Conveyancer
Choosing the right conveyancer or solicitor to complete your conveyancing is essential, and you should always ensure the person you choose is properly verified and regulated.
Using a comparison website to compare quotes from multiple conveyancers will help you determine what you can expect to pay and the services each conveyancer or solicitor can provide.
Here at Compare My Move, we can connect you with up to 6 conveyancers in your local area. Simply fill out our conveyancing comparison form to compare quotes and save on your total costs.
All our conveyancing partners have passed our strict verification process and are regulated by either the SRA, CLC, LSS, LSNI or CILEx.
It's important to explore your options and not rush your decision to provide yourself with the best opportunity to have a smooth and stress-free property ownership transfer.
