Best Conveyancing Solicitors in Croydon

How do I choose a good conveyancing solicitor in Croydon?

When you compare conveyancing quotes, look for a property solicitor with strong credentials, positive client feedback, and experience within the Croydon property market. Local knowledge is especially valuable in Croydon, where property types vary from Victorian and Edwardian homes in South Croydon to modern apartments near East Croydon Station. A solicitor familiar with the borough’s nuances, like ongoing regeneration projects and local planning considerations, can offer tailored advice.

It is important to look for transparency regarding their conveyancing fees and services. Clear pricing avoids unexpected costs and helps you accurately compare quotes.

Make sure the conveyancers you are considering are fully accredited, either by the CLC or SRA.

You can contact them through their website, phone, or visit their office (many Croydon-based firms are located centrally around George Street or London Road). Many will offer an initial consultation to discuss your conveyancing needs.

It’s also helpful to select a conveyancing solicitor who is already on the panel of approved firms set by your chosen mortgage lender, as this will help things go quicker. You can check your lender’s website or ask them directly to find out if your conveyancer is on their panel.

While it’s not essential to use a solicitor based in Croydon, as many aspects of conveyancing can be handled remotely, a local solicitor may provide additional insights into the Croydon property market, including knowledge of local authority searches, borough-specific planning rules, and Croydon Council’s administrative procedures, all of which can impact timelines.

You should engage a conveyancer as you start looking for a property or before you list one for sale, to ensure all legal aspects are promptly addressed.

How do Croydon conveyancers work?

It is a conveyancer’s job to act on your behalf, managing the legal aspects of property transactions and administrative work associated with transferring the ownership of a property from one person to another. Their tasks will vary depending on whether you are buying, selling or both.

Your conveyancing solicitor will conduct conveyancing searches (including local authority checks specific to Croydon Borough, which may reveal key issues like future development plans, flood risk, or conservation area restrictions), handle contracts, and advise on Croydon's property laws, planning policies, and any local market considerations that could impact your purchase or sale, such as recent regeneration projects or changes in local transport infrastructure like the Tramlink expansion.

According to reallymoving data, the average cost of conveyancing fees is around £2,368, including fees and disbursements. For a First Time Buyer, the average cost is £1,478.

Your money is protected when you use a conveyancer. Conveyancing solicitors must hold client funds in separate accounts, ensuring security and compliance with regulatory standards.

It is possible to do your own conveyancing, if you are a cash buyer, however it is advisable to always use a conveyancing solicitor. Conveyancing in a busy and diverse market like Croydon can involve complex legal requirements and local regulations. A professional solicitor will have the knowledge, experience, and access to tools necessary to manage your transaction correctly and efficiently, helping to prevent delays or legal pitfalls that could threaten the deal. Hiring a conveyancer minimises the risk that something will go wrong, and your purchase will not go through.

What questions should I ask my conveyancing solicitor?

Start by enquiring about their experience in the Croydon property market. Even if the solicitor isn’t based in Croydon, they should demonstrate a solid understanding of the local property landscape, including the types of properties common in areas like South Norwood, Purley, and Addiscombe, current and upcoming regeneration schemes, such as the redevelopment around East Croydon and local authority procedures with Croydon Council, which could impact search turnaround times and planning matters.

Ask them about how much their fees will be and what they include, such as disbursements (such as Land Registry and local authority search fees), expenses and Stamp Duty. Croydon property values can vary significantly depending on the postcode and type of property, so ensure your conveyancer factors that into any Stamp Duty advice they provide.

Ask about the timeline for how long the conveyancing process will take, and how they plan to communicate updates to you. Typically, conveyancing takes 8-12 weeks, and your conveyancer will need your input to fill out forms and provide documents throughout the process. They should be available to contact whenever you need to ask questions or request updates.

You may want to see if they offer no sale, no fee agreements. This means you will not have to pay the conveyancing fees if the purchase falls through. However, you may still be liable for disbursement costs already incurred, such as local searches or ID checks.

Make sure they are part of a regulated professional body and are approved on your chosen mortgage lender’s conveyancing panel. All conveyancers/ conveyancing solicitors on reallymoving are regulated by the SRA or CLC.

Is it better to use a solicitor or conveyancer in Croydon?

You can use both conveyancing solicitors and conveyancers to carry out your conveyancing in Croydon. There are differences between the two, but both will perform your property sale or purchase in the same way, so who you decide to use is up to you.

Conveyancing solicitors will have been trained in a variety of legal fields, ranging from family law through to litigation or criminal law. They have then chosen to specialise in property law. This broader legal background may be beneficial if your property transaction is complex or intertwined with other legal matters.

Licensed Conveyancers are specialists who have specifically been trained in property law and this is their sole focus. Their work is entirely dedicated to the buying and selling of property, which often means a highly streamlined and specialised service.

Conveyancing solicitors practising in the Croydon market must be registered with the Law Society and are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), whereas Licensed Conveyancers are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).

Both regulatory bodies will have a public register where you can search for an individual or a firm to check if they are regulated. All property solicitors and conveyancers quoted by reallymoving are regulated by one of these bodies. 

Your decision about whether to use a solicitor or conveyancer may come down to whether you prefer to have someone with expertise in other legal fields you may need help with, or someone trained specifically in property law.

In Croydon’s fast-evolving property market, what matters most is not whether you choose a solicitor or conveyancer, but whether the firm has experience with Croydon’s property dynamics (such as regeneration zones, leasehold complexities, or council search timelines), offers clear communication, competitive fees, and good client reviews and is on the panel of your mortgage lender, to avoid unnecessary delays. Ultimately, choose the professional whose services best suit the specifics of your move to or from Croydon.