Should I Use a Conveyancer or a Solicitor in the UK?

The two professions

Both licensed conveyancers and solicitors can legally handle a UK property transaction. They differ in training, regulator, and breadth of practice:

In practice, for a standard residential transaction either is fine. The key is the individual practitioner's experience and responsiveness, not whether they are a conveyancer or a solicitor.

When a solicitor is better

Choose a solicitor (rather than a licensed conveyancer) if your transaction involves:

• A complicated chain with multiple legal issues
• A divorce or separation requiring legal advice on more than property
• Tax planning that requires general legal advice
• A trust or company purchase
• A dispute or potential litigation
• Anything where you need broader legal services alongside conveyancing

When a licensed conveyancer is fine

A licensed conveyancer is fine for:

• A standard freehold purchase or sale
• A standard leasehold flat purchase or sale (with no unusual issues)
• A remortgage
• A transfer of equity between family members

Licensed conveyancers are specialists and often more efficient than general solicitors at routine residential conveyancing.

What actually matters

The conveyancer or solicitor's individual track record matters more than the qualification:

1. Responsiveness: do they reply to emails and calls within 24 hours

2. Experience: have they handled hundreds of similar transactions

3. Local knowledge: do they know your local authority, the typical issues in your area

4. Reviews: Trustpilot, Google, Solicitors From Hell

5. Recommendations: from your estate agent, mortgage broker, or family

6. Fee transparency: do they quote in writing including disbursements

The cheapest conveyancer is rarely the best. Cheap firms often handle hundreds of files per fee earner and are slow to respond, which causes delays that cost you more than the fee saving.

What to ask before instructing

1. What is your fee structure including all disbursements

2. Who specifically will handle my file (named fee earner)

3. What is your typical turnaround time for similar transactions

4. How quickly do you respond to email and phone enquiries

5. Are you on my mortgage lender's panel

6. What is your client money protection arrangement

7. Do you handle leasehold transactions regularly (if relevant)

Verify the property data

Whichever you choose, look up the property on Property Passport UK at [/search](/search) before instruction. Knowing the EPC, flood zone, listed status, and tenure helps you ask better questions and gives the conveyancer the basic facts they need to start work.

Look up any UK property on Property Passport UK

Property Passport UK is the national property data registry for England and Wales. Verified data on every one of the 19.35 million properties from HM Land Registry, the EPC Register, Ordnance Survey, and the Environment Agency. Free, no account required. Search any address at [/search](/search).