I'm a first-time buyer. What does a conveyancer/solicitor do?

So, you`ve found your dream home, you’ve arranged a mortgage (hopefully with Holistic Mortgage & Protection - your local mortgage Brokers), you`ve got your deposit, you’ve appointed a conveyancer/solicitor.

But what do they actually do?

A couple consults with a conveyancer as they discuss the details of a property transaction, reviewing documents and signing papers in a modern office setting.

Well, they provide a valuable service. Put simply, they deal with all the legal bits in the background to ensure the legal transfer of property ownership, i.e. allowing you to move into your new home. Their responsibilities can be summarised (but not limited to) as the following:   

• Preparing and Reviewing Documents: Handling the contracts, agreements, and other legal documents relating to the purchase of your new home

• Searches: Performing searches, such as (not a conclusive list):

  
  

  • Local Authority Search: Checking for planning permissions, building regulations, and any local issues that might affect the property

  • Land Registry Search: Confirming the property’s ownership and any existing charges or encumbrances on the title

  • Environmental Search: Identifies any environmental issues, such as flood risk, contamination, or nearby landfill sites

  • Chancel Repair Search: Determines whether the property may be liable for contributions to repairs of the local parish church

  • Water and Drainage Search: Investigates the property’s connection to local water and sewage systems.

  • Coal Mining Search: Relevant in certain areas, this checks for any past or potential mining activity that could affect the property

  • Highways Search: Looks into the status of nearby roads and whether they are publicly maintained

A hand holds a key attached to a house-shaped keychain, representing new homeownership.

• Liaising with all relevant Parties concerned: Communicating with you (the buyer), the vendor (seller/and or Estate Agents), your Mortgage Lender and naturally your Mortgage Broker

• Controlling and managing the Financial Transactions: They help facilitate the payment process, i.e. the monies to relevant parties including your deposit, the mortgage Loan and any other settlement amounts relating to the purchase of your home

• Ensuring Compliance: They ensure that all legal requirements are met for the transfer of the property ownership into your name

• Providing other Legal Advice: They offer guidance on any other property-related matters, any particular complexities of the transaction and potential risks involved in the transaction

  
  

So now you know. Knowledge is King, as they say. Till next time, adios!