Best Conveyancing Solicitors in South East London

How do I choose a good conveyancing solicitor in South East London?

When you compare conveyancing quotes, look for a property solicitor with strong credentials, positive client feedback, and experience within the SE London property market. This area includes vibrant neighbourhoods such as Greenwich, Lewisham, Dulwich, and Peckham, each with unique property considerations. A solicitor familiar with local council processes, leasehold structures common in ex-local authority flats, and transport-linked developments (like the Elizabeth Line or Overground) will be essential.

It is important to look for transparency regarding their conveyancing fees and services, including disbursements, searches and fee structure.

Make sure the conveyancers you are considering are fully accredited, either by the CLC or SRA.

You can contact them through their website, phone, or visit their office. Many will offer an initial consultation to discuss your conveyancing needs, which is a good opportunity to assess their responsiveness, communication style, and understanding of local nuances like leasehold complexities in Southwark or conservation area regulations in Greenwich..

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 South East London, as many aspects of conveyancing can be handled remotely, a local solicitor may provide additional insights into the Local property market, including planning permissions, historic building listings, or regeneration projects, such as those around Elephant and Castle or the Old Kent Road.

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 South East London property 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 specific to South East London boroughs (Southwark, Lewisham, Greenwich etc.), reviewing contracts, liaising with estate agents, and advising you on your local council's property laws and issues, such as leasehold intricacies, flood risks along the Thames, or planning restrictions in conservation areas like Blackheath or Dulwich Village.

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. Given South East London's mix of property types, from period Victorian homes to new-build apartments, it's worth discussing with your property solicitor whether additional searches (environmental or drainage reports) are recommended.

When you hire a conveyancer, your money is protected. 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, especially in the often competitive market of South East London, where a solicitor’s expertise is invaluable in spotting potential legal pitfalls like service charge disputes, missing building regulations approvals, or restrictive covenant. Hiring a conveyancer minimises the risk that something will go wrong and derail your transaction.

What questions should I ask my conveyancer?

Start by enquiring about their experience in the South East London property market. Even if they are not physically based in the area, they should demonstrate a strong understanding of local issues, such as leasehold and shared ownership issues in new developments and housing association flats, heritage property restrictions in Greenwich, or Transport infrastructure impacts of the Bakerloo line extension plans or Crossrail stations.

Ask them about how much their fees will be and what they include, such as disbursements, expenses and Stamp Duty.

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 your solicitor should be able to give you an estimate based on current conditions in the South East London market, which can sometimes move quickly or encounter delays due to high demand or council search backlogs. 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.

Make sure they are part of a regulated 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 South East London?

You can use both conveyancing solicitors and conveyancers to carry out your conveyancing in South East London. There are differences between the two, but both will perform your property sale or purchase in the same way and should have knowledge of the property regulations of your local London Borough Council, 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 property law. 

Licensed Conveyancers by contrast, are specialists who have been specifically trained in property law. Their sole focus is on the legalities of buying, selling, and transferring property.

Conveyancing solicitors practising in the London 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 whether you value having someone with expertise across broader areas of law (if your property transaction is linked to other matters like wills or matrimonial issues) or if you prefer a specialist focused purely on property law. But you should ultimately choose a conveyancing firm based on what they can offer you that best suits your move to SE London.