How do you choose a conveyancer as a first-time buyer?

    Choose a conveyancer who is regulated, on your mortgage lender's panel and experienced with your type of purchase, such as leasehold or new build. Before you instruct them, get a written quote listing every fee and disbursement, the name of the person handling your case, how they will update you, and whether they pay anyone for the referral.

    Your conveyancer handles the biggest purchase of your life, yet many first-time buyers simply use whoever the estate agent or developer suggests. You are free to choose your own. A few checks before you instruct a firm can save money, weeks of delay and a lot of stress, and it is much harder to switch once the work has started.

    Solicitor or licensed conveyancer?

    Both can do the legal work of buying a home. Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and licensed conveyancers by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). What matters more than the title is experience with purchases like yours and a good record of communication.

    Check the firm on the SRA or CLC register before you instruct them. Many lenders also look for membership of the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme.

    Check your lender's panel first

    If you are buying with a mortgage, your conveyancer usually acts for your lender as well as for you, so the firm must be on the lender's approved panel. If it is not, the lender may insist on a separate firm for its side of the work, which adds cost and delay.

    Ask your broker or lender to confirm the firm is on the panel before you pay anything.

    Recommended by the agent or developer?

    Estate agents and developers often recommend conveyancers, and some receive a referral fee for doing so. That does not make the firm a bad choice, but you should know about it. A regulated firm that pays for an introduction should tell you.

    Ask directly: do you pay anything to the agent or developer for this referral? Compare at least one other quote before you decide.

    Questions to ask before you instruct them

    Get the answers in writing, by email or in the client care letter:

    • Who will handle my case day to day, and who covers when they are away?
    • How and how often will you update me, and how quickly do you reply to emails?
    • How many purchases like mine (leasehold, new build, shared ownership) have you handled recently?
    • What is your realistic timescale for a purchase like mine?
    • What will I pay if the purchase falls through?
    • Do you pay anyone for this referral?

    What a quote must include

    Firms regulated by the SRA must publish price information for residential conveyancing, but a quote for your purchase is what counts. Make sure it shows:

    • The legal fee and whether VAT is included.
    • Every disbursement: searches, the Land Registry fee, identity checks and the bank transfer fee.
    • Any supplements for leasehold, new build, shared ownership, a Lifetime ISA, a gifted deposit or a government scheme.
    • Whether the fee is fixed, and anything that would make it go up.
    • Whether there is a no-completion, no-fee option, and which costs you pay regardless.

    Once you've instructed them

    Return the client care paperwork and identity checks quickly, and keep a written record of every update. If you are unhappy with the service, raise it with the firm using its complaints procedure first; if that does not resolve it, you can go to the Legal Ombudsman.

    Conveyancing fraud is common. Your conveyancer will not change their bank details by email. Before sending any money, phone the firm on a number you already know to confirm the details.

    Key takeaway

    Choose a regulated firm that is on your lender's panel and experienced with your type of purchase, get a written quote listing every fee, ask who will handle your case and how they will update you, and always confirm bank details by phone.

    Frequently asked questions

    Do I have to use the conveyancer the estate agent recommends?

    No. You can use any regulated conveyancer or solicitor, as long as your mortgage lender accepts them. If you use a recommended firm, ask whether it pays the agent a referral fee and compare at least one other quote.

    When should I choose a conveyancer?

    Ideally before your offer is accepted. Getting quotes and checking your lender's panel in advance means you can instruct a firm the same day, which helps keep the purchase moving.

    Is an online conveyancer cheaper?

    Often, but the lowest fee is not always the lowest cost. Check what the quote includes, who will actually handle your case and how you can reach them, because slow communication is one of the most common reasons purchases are delayed.

    What if I'm unhappy with my conveyancer?

    Raise it with the firm through its complaints procedure first. If that does not resolve it, you can take the complaint to the Legal Ombudsman. You can also change firms, but you may have to pay for work already done.

    Questions to ask, at the right moment

    MyMoveMate gives you the questions to put to your conveyancer at each stage of your move, and a notes log to record every answer with the date, so you always know what was promised.

    14-day free trial, then a single one-off payment of £49 for the whole move. It is not a recurring subscription.

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