Step-by-Step Guide to the Conveyancing Process

Buying or selling a property is a significant step, and while the idea of getting the keys to your new home is exciting, the legal process behind it (conveyancing) can often feel complicated and overwhelming.

That’s where a conveyancer comes in. They handle all the legal aspects of your property transaction, ensuring everything is completed correctly and efficiently. But even with a professional managing the process, it’s important to understand what’s happening at each stage.

Step 1: Making an offer and instructing a conveyancer

Once you’ve found a property and your offer has been accepted, the first step is to instruct a conveyancer.

Your conveyancer will:

• Send you a welcome pack outlining the process, fees, timescales and request your personal information and ID 
• Carry out identity verification checks and comply with anti-money laundering regulations
• Contact the seller’s conveyancer to request the draft contracts and important property details

If you’re buying with a mortgage, you should also submit your formal mortgage application at this stage.

If you are selling a property, your conveyancer will prepare the necessary legal documents to send to the buyer’s conveyancer, including details of the property title, any relevant leases, and property forms.

Step 2: Conducting property searches

Even if a property appears ideal, there may be legal, planning, or environmental issues that aren’t immediately obvious. Your conveyancer will carry out a series of searches to uncover any potential problems before you proceed.

Key searches include:

• Local authority search – checks for planning restrictions, conservation areas, building regulations, or compulsory purchase orders that could affect ownership.
• Environmental search – identifies risks such as flood zones, land contamination, subsidence, or radon gas exposure.
• Water and drainage search – ensures the property is connected to public water and sewerage systems and that there are no issues with access or maintenance responsibility.
• Title and land registry checks – confirms the seller’s legal ownership and checks for any existing mortgages or restrictions on the land.

These searches are essential, as they highlight issues that could affect the property’s value, future plans, or even your ability to buy it. Your conveyancer will review the results and advise you on any concerns.

Step 3: Reviewing contracts and raising enquiries

Once searches are complete, your conveyancer will examine the contract package sent by the seller’s solicitor.

This includes:

• Reviewing the title deed to ensure there are no legal barriers to ownership
• Checking any planning permissions or building regulations approvals for modifications
• Ensuring that any leasehold properties (if applicable) have manageable service charges and fair lease terms

Your conveyancer will also raise enquiries with the seller’s solicitor about anything that needs clarification, such as:

• Who is responsible for maintaining shared access points or driveways?
• Are there guarantees for any recent work, such as damp proofing or double glazing?
• Have there been any disputes with neighbours?

Once all necessary checks have been made, you’ll receive a Report on Title, summarising key findings in clear terms.

Step 4: Securing your mortgage and arranging finances

By this stage, if you're using a mortgage, you should have received your formal mortgage offer from the lender.

Your conveyancer will:

• Review the mortgage agreement to ensure that the details are correct
• Liaise with your lender to request funds in readiness for completion
• Ensure you are aware of any additional costs, such as Stamp Duty

Most lenders require buildings insurance to be in place from the moment contracts are exchanged, so this is the time to arrange cover.

Step 5: Exchanging contracts – the legal commitment

The exchange of contracts is a major milestone, as this is when the sale becomes legally binding for both parties.

Your conveyancer will:

• Ensure all legal and financial arrangements are finalised
• Agree on a completion date with the seller
• Exchange contracts and arrange for the deposit to be transferred (typically 5-10% of the purchase price)

Once contracts are exchanged, both parties are legally committed to the transaction. If either side pulls out at this stage, legal consequences, including loss of deposit, may apply.

Step 6: Completion – getting the keys to your new property

Completion day is when the property officially changes hands.

On the agreed completion date, your conveyancer will:

• Transfer the remaining balance of funds to the seller's solicitor
• Confirm the handover of keys through the estate agent
• Date the Transfer Deed and submit your Stamp Duty Land Tax form

For sellers, completion means receiving the sale funds and legally transferring ownership to your buyer. If a mortgage is involved, your mortgage will be redeemed in full and the charge will be removed from the title.

Step 7: Post-completion – registering ownership

Even after completion, a few final steps remain. Your conveyancer will:

• Register your ownership with HM Land Registry
• Notify your mortgage lender and register their interest on the title

Once this process is complete, your name is officially recorded as the legal owner of the property. Your conveyancer will send you a copy of the updated title and any original legal documents they may hold.

Why choose Maclaren Warner for your conveyancing needs?

At Maclaren Warner, we understand that buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make. Our expert team is dedicated to ensuring that the entire process runs smoothly, providing clear and practical advice throughout. We offer straightforward pricing with no hidden surprises and pride ourselves on our ability to handle even the most complex legal requirements. Throughout the process, we ensure you receive regular updates, so you are always informed about what’s happening at each stage.

Whether you’re purchasing a new home or selling a property, we strive to make conveyancing as hassle-free as possible. Get in touch with us today to get started.