What Do Conveyancing Solicitors Do? A Step-by-Step Guide

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest steps you will take, and there is a good deal of legal work behind it. So what do conveyancing solicitors do, and why do you need one? This article relates to properties in England and Wales. 

In short, a conveyancing solicitor handles the legal transfer of property ownership from one person to another. They carry out the checks, paperwork and money transfers that turn an agreed price into keys in your hand. If you would like the fuller picture, our guide to conveyancing explains how the process fits together from start to finish. Below, we walk through what conveyancing solicitors do at each stage.

What is conveyancing?

Conveyancing is the legal process of moving property from a seller to a buyer. It runs from the moment an offer is accepted to the day the sale completes and ownership changes hands.

The work is detailed and precise. A small error can cause delays, extra cost or problems further down the line, which is why most people ask a qualified conveyancer to manage it.

What conveyancing solicitors do: the main steps

Here is what conveyancing solicitors do once you instruct them, whether you are buying, selling or both.

1. Take your instructions and confirm costs

Your conveyancer first confirms the details of your purchase or sale. They carry out identity checks, explain their charges, and set out the likely timescale.

We prefer to be clear about fees from the outset, so you know what to expect rather than facing surprises later.

2. Prepare or review the contract

If you are selling, your conveyancer draws up the draft contract and gathers information about the property. If you are buying, they review the seller's contract and raise questions on anything unclear.

This is where a conveyancer checks that what you are agreeing to matches what you think you are getting.

3. Carry out property searches

For buyers, searches are a key part of the job. Your conveyancer orders reports from local authorities and other bodies to uncover anything that might affect the property or its value.

Common searches include:

• Local authority searches for planning history and nearby road schemes
• Water and drainage searches to confirm how the property is served
• Environmental searches covering flood risk, contamination and ground stability

4. Raise and answer enquiries

Once searches are back, your conveyancer raises enquiries with the other side. These questions clear up anything the searches or contract leave open, from boundaries to building work.

Answering enquiries promptly keeps the transaction moving, so we follow up where needed and keep you updated.

5. Check the legal title and mortgage terms

Your conveyancer examines the property's title to confirm the seller has the right to sell and that no hidden restrictions apply. If you are buying with a mortgage, they also review the lender's conditions and make sure everything is in order.

6. Exchange contracts

Exchange is the point where the sale becomes legally binding. Your conveyancer agrees a completion date with the other side, confirms your deposit is ready, and formally exchanges contracts.

After exchange, neither party can pull out without serious contractual and financial consequences, so this is a significant moment.

7. Complete the sale

On completion day, your conveyancer transfers the purchase money to the seller's conveyancer. Once funds arrive, ownership passes and the keys are released.

For buyers, this is the day the property becomes yours. For sellers, it is when your sale is finalised.

On a sale, any outstanding mortgage is repaid and agreed payments such as estate agents, and sale proceeds are transferred to the seller.

8. Handle the final legal steps

The work does not quite end at completion. Your conveyancer then:

• Pays any Stamp Duty Land Tax (or Land Transaction Tax in Wales) due on a purchase
• Registers the new ownership with the Land Registry on a purchase.
• Sends you copies of the completed paperwork for your records

Why use a conveyancing solicitor?

You are not legally required to use a conveyancer, but the process carries real risk if a detail is missed. A qualified conveyancer protects your interests, spots problems early, and manages the money safely.

At Lovedays, our conveyancing team is accredited under the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme. We handle purchases, sales and remortgages for people across Matlock, Wirksworth, Bakewell and the wider Derbyshire Dales and High Peak.

We believe good legal advice should feel personal and local. When you move home with us, you deal with a named team who know the area and keep you informed at every step.