Conveyancing

Conveyancing is the term given to the legal and administrative work that is needed when transferring the ownership of buildings or land from one owner to another. The process starts after an offer is accepted and both parties have exchanged solicitors' details.

It is possible to do the conveyancing yourself, but most people instruct a solicitor, as it is time-consuming and can also be risky if you do not have the correct understanding of your rights and obligations. The process has become cheaper in recent years and it is well worth the cost to successfully complete a purchase.

Conveyancing can be complex and is necessary to avoid or resolve any possible problems. There are many searches to be carried out, the main ones being property searches, local area searches and title searches. This requires the expert knowledge of a solicitor, as it is a crucial part of the process of buying a property or land.

Conveyancing law sets out the rules of what must be disclosed, when and by whom. It will also set out which party carries the risk of problems that can arise. If a solicitor does the conveyancing for you, he is the one who carries the responsibility for things going wrong - not you.