Ladybird Living – Your London Estate Agent
Do you need a solicitor to buy a house
You can buy a house with or without the help of a solicitor, but the process will be much easier with a solicitor experienced in conveyancing.
Conveyancing refers to the legal work related to transferring the ownership of property from one person to another. It is not a requirement to be legally qualified to do your own conveyancing in England or Wales, which is why many people decide to do it themselves instead of paying for a professional to do it.
What will a solicitor or conveyancer do?
Solicitors or licensed conveyancers will first conduct essential searches with organisations such as local authorities and utility companies. These searches are important because it will inform you about whether there are risks in the area such as flood risks or whether the property is built near sewers.
Furthermore, solicitors and conveyancers can give you advice about ‘incurred costs’ such as stamp duty and will check over the information within contracts.
What is the difference between a solicitor and conveyancer?
Both solicitors and licensed conveyancers are professionals who can help you in selling or buying a home. Conveyancers are only qualified to deal with property law, whereas solicitors are qualified lawyers and can help you with a variety of legal issues. For this reason, it may be more costly to get a solicitor to help you with the conveyancing process.
How much will it cost?
It will usually cost between £500 – £1500 depending on the property being sold and specific circumstances. For instance, conveyancing may cost more if you are looking to sell a leasehold property than freehold properties due to the amount of paperwork required for leaseholds.
Conclusion:
While you can potentially do your own conveyancing, a solicitor or licensed conveyancer may be a better option. They can make conveyancing a quicker and easier process for you since they can remove the stress of having to deal with all the paperwork on your own as conveyancing often involves completing complex forms.
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