Best Conveyancing Solicitors in Glasgow

How do I choose a good conveyancing solicitor in Glasgow?

When you compare conveyancing quotes, look for a property solicitor with strong credentials, positive client feedback, and experience within the Glasgow property market. A solicitor familiar with Glasgow will understand the unique aspects of buying or selling property in the city, such as local planning regulations, Scottish property law differences, and common transaction patterns in areas like the West End, Southside, or Merchant City.

It is important to look for transparency regarding their conveyancing fees and services. 

Make sure the conveyancers you are considering are fully accredited by the Law Society of Scotland.

You can contact them through their website, phone, or visit their office. Many will offer an initial consultation to discuss your conveyancing needs.

It’s also helpful to select a conveyancing solicitor that is already on the panel of approved firms set by your chosen mortgage lender, as this will help things go quicker. You can check your lender’s website or ask them directly to find out if your conveyancer is on their panel.

While it’s not essential to use a solicitor based in Glasgow, as many aspects of conveyancing can be handled remotely, a local solicitor may offer useful insights into the city's housing trends, local authority procedures, and common challenges like mining reports and renovation disclosures.

You should engage a conveyancer as soon as you start looking for a property, as they will be responsible for submitting your offer and/or marketing your property.

How do Glasgow conveyancing solicitors work?

It is a conveyancer’s job to act on your behalf, managing the legal aspects of property transactions and administrative work associated with transferring the ownership of a property from one person to another. Their tasks will vary depending on whether you are buying, selling or both. Their role is to ensure that ownership of the property is transferred smoothly, legally, and with full compliance to Scottish property law, which differs from the legal process in England and Wales.

Your conveyancing solicitor will conduct conveyancing searches with Glasgow City Council, prepare or review the Missives (the Scottish equivalent of the contract of sale), and advise on Glasgow's property laws to facilitate a smooth transfer of ownership.

According to reallymoving data, the average cost of conveyancing fees is around £2,368, including fees and disbursements. For a First Time Buyer, the average cost is £1,478.

Your money is protected when you use a conveyancer. Conveyancing solicitors must hold client funds in separate accounts, ensuring security and compliance with regulatory standards set by the Law Society of Scotland.

It is possible to do your own conveyancing, if you are a cash buyer, however it is advisable to always use a conveyancing solicitor as they will have the knowledge and expertise necessary to complete a property transaction. Scottish property law has many intricacies, and a qualified solicitor will have the local knowledge and expertise to ensure the process goes smoothly. Hiring a conveyancer minimises the risk that something will go wrong, and your purchase will not go through.

What questions should I ask my conveyancing solicitor?

Start by enquiring about their experience in the Glasgow property market. Even if they are not based locally, they should be able to effectively help you navigate your purchase in Scotland, which has different property laws to the rest of the UK, such as an 'offers over' pricing model, Missives & Home Reports.

Ask them about how much their fees will be and what they include, such as disbursements, expenses and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).

Ask about the timeline for how long the conveyancing process will take, and how they plan to communicate updates to you. Typically, conveyancing in Scotland takes 4-6 weeks, and your conveyancer will need your input to fill out forms and provide documents throughout the process. They should be available to contact whenever you need to ask questions or request updates.

You may want to see if they offer no sale, no fee agreements, in case the purchase falls through. However, as it is harder for purchases to fall through in Scotland, due to gazumping being illegal, this may not be as essential.

Make sure they are part of a regulated professional body (Law Society of Scotland, Solicitors Regulation Authority or Council for Licensed Conveyancers) and are approved on your chosen mortgage lender’s conveyancing panel. All conveyancers/ conveyancing solicitors on reallymoving are regulated by the SRA or CLC.

Is it better to use a solicitor or conveyancer in Glasgow?

You can use both conveyancing solicitors and conveyancers to carry out your conveyancing in Glasgow. There are differences between the two, but both will perform your property sale or purchase in the same way, and should have knowledge of Scotland's conveyancing system.

Conveyancing solicitors will have been trained in a variety of legal fields, ranging from family law through to litigation or criminal law. They have then chosen to specialise in a property law

Licensed Conveyancers are specialists that have specifically been trained in property law and this is their sole focus.

Conveyancing solicitors practising in the Glasgow market must be registered with the Law Society and are regulated by the Registered with the Law Society of Scotland or by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) if they also operate in England and Wales, whereas Licensed Conveyancers are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).

All these regulatory bodies will have a public register where you can search an individual or a firm to check if they are regulated. All property solicitors and conveyancers quoted by reallymoving are regulated by one of these bodies. 

Your decision about whether to use a solicitor or conveyancer may come down to whether you prefer to have someone with expertise in other legal fields you may need help with, or someone trained specifically in property law. But you should ultimately choose a conveyancing firm based on what they can offer you that best suits your move to Glasgow, whether you're moving to a Victorian sandstone tenement in the West End, a semi-detached home in Bearsden or a modern flat in Glasgow Harbour.

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