Conveyancing: A Consumer Guide

Conveyancing normally includes:

• checking title documents and ownership;
• raising enquiries with the seller’s solicitor;
• reviewing any mortgage offer and lender conditions;
• ordering searches (local, drainage, environmental);
• explaining any legal issues or risks in plain English;
• drafting or reviewing the contract;
• managing exchange and completion steps.

A good lawyer provides a simple explanation of these stages and a realistic timeline.

• Clear explanation of the process from start to finish.
• Realistic timescales (not promises that are unlikely to be met).
• Updates without needing to chase frequently.
• Written advice about any legal risks.
• Clear supervision of junior staff.
• Transparent written cost information.

Before instructing a conveyancer, use the Pre-instruction Checklist.

Consumers often report:

• delays without clear explanation,
• slow or irregular communication,
• late or missing property searches,
• lack of supervision of junior staff,
• last-minute issues that could have been handled earlier,
• incorrect or inconsistent information in documents,
• costs that increase without advance notice.

You can record each concern in a Risk & Issue Log.

• Uncertainty over who is actually handling your file.
• Being passed between multiple team members without explanation.
• Reluctance to give written cost information.
• Vague responses about delays.
• Updates that contradict earlier statements.
• Consistent blame placed on “the other side” without detail.

See also: Legal Services Act Warning Signs.

• “Who will be doing the day-to-day work on my file?”
• “How many cases does that person handle at once?”
• “What are the main risks in this transaction?”
• “What could cause delays and how will I be told?”
• “When should I expect searches to be completed?”
• “How often will you update me?”

You can also use: Questions to Ask a Lawyer.

Using structured tools helps keep everything factual, organised, and easy to evidence:

• Timeline Tracker — record expected vs actual dates.
• Risk & Issue Log — track problems as they arise.
• Communication Log — record emails, calls and messages.
• Cost Monitor — track estimates and invoices.

These records become important if you later need to raise a complaint.

A simple set of steps:

1. Ask for clear explanations in writing.
2. Record delays, missed expectations and broken commitments.
3. Make a structured complaint to the firm (in writing).
4. If unresolved, consider the Legal Ombudsman.

Helpful tools:

• Complaint Letter Generator
• Ombudsman Complaint Builder
• How to Read a Solicitor’s Letter
• Fake Apologies & Non-Answers

This guide is published by to help consumers understand conveyancing, what good service looks like, and how to keep clear records if problems arise. It is general information, not legal advice.

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