Best Conveyancing Solicitors in Liverpool

How do I choose a good conveyancing solicitor in Liverpool?

When you compare conveyancing quotes, look for a property solicitor with strong credentials, positive client feedback, and experience within the Liverpool property market. The city has a unique and diverse housing landscape, including Victorian terraces, modern waterfront apartments, and suburban family homes, so local expertise can be a real advantage whether you're buying or selling.

Make sure they are transparent regarding their conveyancing fees and services, offering a clear breakdown of costs including any disbursements or potential additional charges.

Ensure the conveyancers you are considering are fully accredited, either by the CLC or SRA, so they meet professional and ethical standards.

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 Liverpool, as many aspects of conveyancing can be handled remotely, a local solicitor may provide additional insights into the Liverpool property market. They will likely have first-hand knowledge of local planning trends, area-specific risks, like flood zones along the Mersey, as well as common Liverpool City Council processes, which could help avoid delays.

You should engage a conveyancer as you start looking for a property or before you list one for sale, to ensure all legal aspects are promptly addressed.

How do Liverpool 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.

Your conveyancing solicitor will conduct conveyancing searches, handle contracts, and advising on Liverpool City Councils laws and regulations to facilitate a smooth transfer of ownership and guide you through the specific legal processes involved in property transactions within the Liverpool City Region.

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. Keep in mind that actual costs in Liverpool can vary depending on the property type, location (e.g., Georgian Quarter vs. Bootle), and whether you are buying a leasehold (common around the docks and in converted historical buildings) or freehold property.

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.

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, especially if you're buying property in areas like Anfield or Toxteth, which may have special ownership conditions or historic grant schemes. Hiring a conveyancer minimises the risk that something will go wrong, and your purchase will not go through.

What questions should I ask my conveyancer?

Start by enquiring about their experience in the [location] property market. Even if they are not based locally, they should be able to effectively help you navigate your purchase in Liverpool, from the nuances of buying in areas like Wavertree or Aigburth, to the implications of purchasing leasehold properties in city centre developments. Ask whether they’ve dealt with properties in the area and how familiar they are with Liverpool City Council processes, local planning regulations, and any potential red flags (e.g. regeneration schemes or flood zones near the River Mersey).

Remember to ask them about how much their fees will be and what they include, such as disbursements expenses and Stamp Duty. Some properties in areas like Anfield or Toxteth will have regeneration-related covenants, meaning they may have special ownership conditions or historic grant schemes, so remember to ask about these if you're buying in these areas.

Ask about the timeline for how long the conveyancing process will take, and how they plan to communicate updates to you. Typically, conveyancing takes 8-12 weeks, but if you are buying on a flood plain or in coastal proximity, additional flood searches may be required, adding additional time. 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. This means you will not have to pay the conveyancing fees if the purchase falls through, but you may still have to cover the cost of disbursements or any additional searches carried out.

Make sure they are part of a regulated by a professional body 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 Liverpool?

You can use both conveyancing solicitors and conveyancers to carry out your conveyancing in Liverpool. There are differences between the two, but both will perform your property sale or purchase in the same way and should have knowledge of Liverpool City Councils regulations on land charges, planning searches, building control records and licensing (e.g. for HMOs, landlords). So who you decide to use is up to you.

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 Liverpool market must be registered with the Law Society and are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), whereas Licensed Conveyancers are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).

Both 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 if you prefer to have someone with expertise in other legal fields you may need help with, especially in historic properties the city centre or areas like Wavertree and Kensington. Or you may want someone trained specifically in property law, for example, Liverpool has a high volume of HMOs (houses in multiple occupation) requiring solicitor familiarity with property licensing. But you should ultimately choose a conveyancing firm based on what they can offer you that best suits your move to Liverpool.