Best Conveyancing Solicitors in London

How do I choose a good conveyancing solicitor in London?

When you compare conveyancing quotes, look for a property solicitor with strong credentials, positive client feedback, and experience within the London property market. It is important to look for transparency regarding their conveyancing fees and services. 

London presents a fast-paced and highly competitive market, so having a conveyancer familiar with the city's specific property laws, borough regulations, and market trends can be a distinct advantage. It is important to look for transparency regarding their conveyancing fees and services, especially in London where costs can vary significantly depending on the area and complexity of the transaction.

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 will offer an initial consultation to discuss your conveyancing needs. This can be especially valuable in a city like London, where property types and transaction complexities vary from borough to borough.

It’s also helpful to select a conveyancing solicitor that is already on the panel of approved firms set by your chosen mortgage lender. In London, where property chains can be long and timelines tight, this can help speed up the mortgage approval process. 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 London, as many aspects of conveyancing can be handled remotely, a local solicitor may provide additional insights into the London property market, such as knowledge of congestion charge and ULEZ zones, leasehold nuances, or local authority search speeds.

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, especially given the competitive and often time-sensitive nature of the London housing market.

How do London conveyancing solicitors 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, handle contracts, and advising on London's property laws to facilitate a smooth transfer of ownership. The city encompasses a diverse range of property types, such as historic leasehold flats, new-build apartments and high-value freeholds, which will differ greatly by area such as Croydon and Barking. Therefore, it’s especially important to have a solicitor who understands the legal intricacies that may vary across London boroughs and property categories.

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. However, in London, conveyancing fees can vary based on the property's value and complexity, particularly in areas with high property prices like Kensington, Chelsea, or the City of London.

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.

While it is legally possible to handle your own conveyancing if you are a cash buyer, this is generally not recommended—especially in London’s legally complex market. It is advisable to always use a conveyancing solicitor as they will have the knowledge and expertise necessary to complete a property transaction. Hiring a conveyancer minimises the risk that something will go wrong, and your purchase will not go through.

What questions should I ask my conveyancer?

Start by enquiring about their experience in the London property market. Even if they are not based locally, they should be able to effectively help you navigate your purchase in London's property market, with specific considerations like leasehold flats, which are common in the area and come with complex service charges and ground rent clauses, and borough-specific planning laws.

Ask them about how much their fees will be and what they include, such as disbursements expenses and Stamp Duty, which can be significant in London due to higher average property values.

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, but you may still have to cover the cost of disbursements.This may be particularly reassuring in a competitive market like London, where deals can sometimes fall through.

Make sure they are part of a regulated by a 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 London?

When buying or selling property in London, you can use both conveyancing solicitors and conveyancers to carry out your conveyancing. There are differences between the two, but both are qualified to carry out your transaction, and they will generally handle your property sale or purchase in much 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 a property law

Licensed Conveyancers are specialists that have specifically been trained in property law and this is their sole focus.

Conveyancing solicitors practising in the London 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 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. But you should ultimately choose a conveyancing firm based on what they can offer you that best suits your move move to, from, or within London. Consider factors such as experience with London various boroughs (which will have different rules and regulations), familiarity with local authority search timelines, availability, communication style, and whether they are on your mortgage lender’s panel..