Finance glossary
Conveyancing
Also known as: Conveyance
In simple terms
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer. A solicitor or licensed conveyancer handles the searches, checks and paperwork.
On this page
What does conveyancing mean?
Conveyancing is the legal transfer of a property from one owner to another. It covers everything from checking the seller’s legal right to sell, through local authority and other searches, to registering you as the new owner with HM Land Registry.
It is normally carried out by a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer acting on your behalf, and your mortgage lender will also require certain checks to be done.
How conveyancing works
Your conveyancer reviews the contract and title, orders searches (such as local authority, environmental and water/drainage), raises enquiries with the seller’s solicitor, and checks the mortgage offer conditions are met.
Once everyone is satisfied, contracts are exchanged (making the sale legally binding) and a completion date is set. On completion, funds are transferred, you get the keys, and your conveyancer handles Stamp Duty and Land Registry registration.
How could this affect me?
Conveyancing protects you from buying a property with hidden legal problems — such as disputed boundaries, planning breaches or restrictive covenants — so it is worth using a conveyancer you can communicate with easily.
Fees include the conveyancer’s charge plus “disbursements” (search fees, Land Registry fees and, where due, Stamp Duty). Delays here are a common reason property chains slow down.
Things to watch out for
- Quoted fees may exclude disbursements like searches and Land Registry fees — ask for the full cost.
- A cheap online conveyancer can be slower or harder to reach, which can hold up a chain.
- You usually pay for searches even if the purchase falls through, so budget for that risk.
General information, not personal advice
Consumer Credit is an independent information service. We do not provide regulated financial advice or sell financial products. For advice on your own situation, speak to an appropriately authorised firm or a free service such as MoneyHelper. About Consumer Credit.
Sources
We checked this page against these official and authoritative sources.
- MoneyHelper, The legal side of buying a home — conveyancing (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.
- GOV.UK, Buying a home — the process (opens in a new tab). Accessed 22 Aug 2026.