What is conveyancing?

When you buy or sell a home, conveyancing covers the legal and administrative work to move title from one person to another. Your conveyancer reviews the contract, raises enquiries with the seller's solicitor, orders local authority and drainage searches, checks for planning issues or restrictions, and manages the deposit and completion funds through client accounts.

The process has key milestones. After your offer is accepted, conveyancers draft and negotiate the contract. You apply for your mortgage and survey. When both sides agree, you 'exchange contracts' — at which point the deal is legally binding and you usually pay a deposit of 5–10%. 'Completion' is moving day, when the balance is paid and keys are released.

Disbursements — third-party costs paid by your solicitor — include searches, Land Registry fees and stamp duty. For 2026/27, first-time buyers pay no stamp duty on properties up to £300,000 (with reduced rates up to £500,000 in England and Northern Ireland); standard thresholds apply for other buyers. Your conveyancer should calculate this before completion.

Conveyancing typically takes 8–16 weeks but can run longer with leasehold properties, new-build chains or legal complications. You can use a solicitor recommended by your lender or shop around — compare fixed fees, online trackers and reviews. Delays often come from searches and mortgage offers, so respond to requests quickly.