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The Role of the Solicitor

If you don't have a solicitor or conveyancer lined up, your lender may be able to offer a list of names to choose from, or The Law Society or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers can give you the names of conveyancers or solicitors operating in your local area. Remember that when you choose a solicitor it's as important that you have a good relationship with your lawyer as it is to find the cheapest deal.

Your solicitor's main job will be conveyancing - the legal transfer of ownership of your new home. Together with the seller's solicitor, he or she will prepare a written contract between you and the seller, setting the price, terms and date for the property to change hands.

Your solicitor will help negotiate if you wish the seller to do any repairs before completion or if, after your survey results, you want to lower your offer. He or she should also check there are no construction plans in the area that could affect the property, such as a road widening scheme.

When contracts have been drawn up and agreed and your solicitor has received your mortgage offer, then contracts are exchanged. At this time the price is fixed and the purchase is secure. A 10 per cent deposit is normally required at this point, but this is negotiable.

Completion - when you finally own the property - is usually one month from the date of exchange, but it can be shorter or longer if both parties agree. This legal system applies only to England and Wales.