When most UK homeowners think about selling their property, they focus on the estate agent — the valuation, the marketing, the viewings. The solicitor is often an afterthought, chosen on the basis of cost alone or recommended almost casually. This is a significant mistake. The conveyancing solicitor you instruct can be the single most important factor in whether your sale completes smoothly, quickly and at the agreed price — or falls apart entirely.

What Does a Conveyancing Solicitor Actually Do?

When you sell a property in England or Wales, your solicitor is responsible for:

This is a complex legal process. A slow, disorganised or inexperienced solicitor can delay completion by weeks or even months — and in the worst cases, can cause a sale to fall through entirely.

The Cheapest Solicitor Is Rarely the Best Choice

Online conveyancing factories have driven down the cost of property legal work — you can now find quotes of £500–£800 for a straightforward sale. These low-cost providers often employ large volumes of cases per fee earner, meaning your transaction receives very limited individual attention. Calls go unanswered. Emails take days for a response. Enquiries sit unactioned.

"The difference in cost between a cheap conveyancer and a quality local solicitor might be £400–£600. The difference in service — and the risk of your sale falling through — can be worth tens of thousands of pounds."

What to Look for in a Property Solicitor

Experience and Specialisation

Look for a firm that specialises in residential property — not a general practice that handles conveyancing alongside criminal defence and family law as an afterthought. Ask specifically how many residential sales they complete per month.

A Dedicated Contact

You should have a named solicitor or conveyancer who handles your case from start to finish — not a faceless team where your file is passed between whoever is available. Ask for a direct line and an email address before you instruct.

Local Knowledge

A solicitor who knows your local area — who has dealt with the same searches, the same quirks of local title, the same issues with leasehold properties in your area — will handle your transaction more efficiently than one based hundreds of miles away.

Responsiveness

The most common complaint from UK property sellers about their solicitor is slow communication. Before you instruct, call the firm and see how long it takes to reach someone. This will tell you a great deal about the service you will receive.

Questions to Ask a Solicitor Before Instructing

  • How many residential property sales do you handle per month?
  • Who will be my named point of contact throughout?
  • What is your typical time from instruction to exchange of contracts on a straightforward sale?
  • How do you communicate — by email, phone, online portal?
  • What are your full fees including disbursements and Land Registry fees?
  • Are you on the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accredited panel?

Leasehold Properties Require Specialist Knowledge

If your property is leasehold — a flat, an apartment, or a leasehold house — the conveyancing process is considerably more complex. Your solicitor must obtain a leasehold information pack from the freeholder or managing agent (which can itself take weeks), review the lease, and address any issues around service charges, ground rent, or lease length. Not all conveyancers are experienced in leasehold transactions. Make sure yours is.

When You Sell Through Property Offers

When you accept a cash offer from Property Offers, we appoint and pay for a solicitor from our trusted panel on your behalf. These are experienced conveyancers who specialise in fast cash transactions and understand the urgency that often accompanies our clients' situations. You do not pay a penny in legal fees — they are covered entirely by us as part of our zero-fee promise.

Call us on 0203 633 9596 for a free, confidential cash offer within 24 hours.