Yes, you need a solicitor — here's why
Selling privately means you're handling the marketing and viewings yourself. But the legal transfer of property ownership — conveyancing — must be handled by a qualified solicitor or licensed conveyancer. This is non-negotiable in England and Wales and isn't something Propeo, or any listing platform, can change.
The good news: choosing your own solicitor — rather than using one an agent recommends — typically means better value and a more straightforward experience. Agent-recommended solicitors often involve a referral fee arrangement that quietly adds to your costs. Go direct, compare fixed-fee quotes from regulated solicitors, and you keep both the savings and the control.
One thing most sellers get wrong before they've even listed
Most people assume they need a solicitor only once an offer has been accepted. In practice, instructing a solicitor at the point you decide to sell — before your property goes live, and long before a buyer appears — is one of the most effective things you can do to protect your sale.
Here's why it matters: the moment an offer is agreed, the clock starts. Your buyer's mortgage has an expiry date. Their chain has a timeline. Every day lost in the early stages of conveyancing — waiting for you to find a solicitor, waiting for them to request your title documents, waiting for you to complete your property information forms — is a day that brings you closer to a chain collapse, a buyer getting cold feet, or a fall-through that costs everyone time and money.
A solicitor instructed before you list can have your draft contract, title documents, and property information forms ready and waiting the moment you say yes to a buyer. That preparation can shave weeks off your transaction — and in a market where one in three sales falls through, speed to exchange is one of the most powerful protections you have.
Instruct a solicitor when you decide to sell. Not when you find a buyer.
What does a conveyancing solicitor actually do?
Your solicitor handles everything that happens legally after a buyer's offer is accepted.
This includes:
- Drafting and issuing the contract of sale
- Carrying out property searches (local authority, water, environmental)
- Responding to the buyer's solicitor's enquiries
- Reviewing the buyer's mortgage arrangements (where applicable)
- Exchanging contracts and setting a completion date
- Receiving and transferring funds on completion day
- Registering the change of ownership with the UK Land Registry (HMLR)
How much does it cost?
Conveyancing fees for a standard residential sale typically range from £800 to £1,800 plus VAT, depending on property value, location, and the complexity of the transaction. Leasehold properties typically cost more than freehold due to additional legal work involved.
You'll also pay disbursements — fixed costs like Land Registry fees and office copies — which are usually £100–£300 on top.
How to choose a good solicitor
Word of mouth is reliable, but if you don't have a recommendation, look for a solicitor who specialises in residential conveyancing (not just any high-street firm), has strong recent reviews on Google or TrustPilot, offers a fixed-fee quote, and is clear about who will be handling your case day to day.
Avoid any firm that can't give you a direct phone number for your case handler, or that takes more than 24 hours to respond to initial enquiries — these are reliable indicators of how they'll perform during the sale itself.
Owner Resource Hub
This guide is part of Propeo's free Owner Advice library — open to everyone.
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