What is conveyancing and how much does it cost?
Conveyancing is the legal process that moves a home from one owner to another - and it’s where most buying delays happen. What it covers, what it really costs, and how to choose who does yours.
On this page
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring a property’s ownership from seller to buyer. It covers everything from the moment your offer is accepted to the day you’re registered as the new owner. A solicitor or a licensed conveyancer handles it for you.
What your conveyancer actually does
- Searches - local authority, drainage/water, environmental and (sometimes) chancel checks against the property
- Title checks - verifying the seller actually owns the property and can sell it
- Enquiries - formal questions to the seller’s solicitor about anything flagged in searches, the title or the forms
- Contract - preparing and checking the contract, including any lease terms if the property is leasehold
- Money handling - holding your deposit, transferring the balance on completion day
- After completion - paying Stamp Duty within 14 days and registering you at HM Land Registry
On the seller’s side the work mirrors this: preparing the property information form (TA6) and fixtures form, responding to enquiries, and proving they can sell. The buyer’s conveyancer does the heavy lifting.
How much does conveyancing cost?
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Conveyancer’s fee (buying) | £800 – £1,500 |
| Conveyancer’s fee (selling) | £700 – £1,200 |
| Local authority search | £100 – £250 |
| Water/drainage search | £40 – £80 |
| Environmental search | £40 – £100 |
| Land Registry fee | £20 – £295 (price-dependent) |
| Bank transfer fee | £30 – £60 |
| Leasehold work (if applicable) | £150 – £400 extra |
How long does it take?
For a straightforward freehold purchase, allow 8–12 weeks from instructing your conveyancer to completion. Leasehold takes longer - the management pack alone can take weeks. Chains, slow searches or difficult sellers can push the total well beyond that.
How to choose a conveyancer
- Check they’re regulated - solicitors by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA); conveyancers by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC)
- Prefer a fixed fee with a written list of what’s included
- Ask who does the work - some firms hand your case to paralegals; that’s fine, but know who you’re dealing with
- Read reviews - look for feedback on communication speed, not just price
- Local isn’t automatic - a good national firm with a portal can beat a local firm that’s overloaded; what matters is responsiveness
Source: Solicitors Regulation Authority - finding a solicitor — Regulator’s consumer guidance
Source: Council for Licensed Conveyancers — Regulator for licensed conveyancers
The buying process, step by stepWhere conveyancing fits in the overall timeline.Which survey do you need?Book the survey in parallel with the legal work.Get a conveyancing quote from SRA-regulated solicitorsCompare local firms that handle sale and purchase work.
Sources
- Solicitors Regulation Authority - finding a solicitor - Regulator’s consumer guidance
- Council for Licensed Conveyancers - Regulator for licensed conveyancers