When finding a solicitor for a house purchase, make sure they’re approved by your mortgage lender to avoid extra costs. It’s also worth checking that they have experience with your type of purchase, especially if you’re buying a listed property, using a scheme like Shared Ownership, or buying a council house.
One of the biggest factors to consider is cost. Solicitor fees when buying can vary depending on the type of property, location, and complexity of the transaction, so it’s important to compare conveyancing quotes and understand exactly what you’ll be paying.
Here, we explain what solicitors do, how to find and compare them, and the key questions to ask before making your final choice.
The table below displays our best solicitors for buying a house:
Ranking | Conveyancer | Based |
|---|---|---|
1 | Bishopsgate Law | London, Hertfordshire, Northampton |
2 | My Home Move Conveyancing | Leicester |
3 | Juno | UK-wide (online) |
4 | Attwells Solicitors LLP | Colchester, Ipswich, and North London |
5 | GD Property Solicitors | Manchester |
6 | Muve Conveyancers | UK-wide |
7 | Mancini Legal Limited | Horsham, Haywards Heath, and Crawley |
What Does a Solicitor Do?
When buying a house, you’ll need either a licensed conveyancer or a conveyancing solicitor to manage the legal side of the transaction. Their role covers:
- Running property searches
- Reviewing and handling contracts
- Managing payments and disbursements
- Carrying out the exchange of contracts
- Registering you as the new owner with the Land Registry
A good conveyancer or solicitor will keep the process moving smoothly, handle communication with other parties, and ensure you’re protected legally at every stage. Because they’re so central to the process, choosing the right one makes a big difference to how quickly and easily your transaction progresses. Keep in mind that buying a house with no chain can be even quicker.
5 Best Solicitors for Buying a House
Here are the top solicitors for buyers, based on their average rating:
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1. Bishopsgate Law
Finding a Solicitor for Buying a House
Finding the right solicitor for the purchase will allow for a quick process. Follow our top tips to find a trusted solicitor when buying your house.
Bishopsgate Law have years of experience in the industry, guiding you through the conveyancing process regardless of the complexity. Their fixed fee service means there are no hidden costs, and you'll know exactly what you are paying for.
They use market-leading technology to move things along and keep you updated throughout.
Their team are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and accredited by the Law Society, so they are held to the highest industry standard.
Absolutely fantastic- very experienced, responsive by phone and email, friendly and professional. Particularly helpful for us as first time buyers in a complex sales process - they reduced a lot of stress and were incredibly proactive. Thanks! - Siobhan
2. My Home Move Conveyancing
My Home Move Conveyancing offers online services across England and Wales. Their online portal is accessible 24/7, so buyers can track their purchase and upload documents easily.
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) regulates them, so you can feel assured they will adhere to industry standards and offer exceptional customer service.
Their team appreciates that buying a house can be stressful, and they work hard to ensure all purchases are processed as smoothly as possible.
I was very pleased with the overall experience. The process was handled efficiently, and everything was completed well within the expected timeframe, including the Help to Buy redemption. A special mention to my conveyancer, Hope Johnson, who did a brilliant job throughout. - Jamshed
3. Muve
The average solicitor fee when buying a freehold property is £1,567. This is based on the average UK house price of £285,000. This cost does not include any additional fees such as disbursements. Below are the average solicitor fees for buying a house based on the property value:
Property Value | Freehold Solicitor Fees | Leasehold Solicitor Fees |
|---|---|---|
Up to £100,000 | £1,090 | £1,270 |
£100,001 to £300,000 | £1,190 - £1,320 | £1,370 - £1,490 |
£300,001 to £500,000 | £1,390 - £1,490 | £1,560 - £1,650 |
£500,001 to £700,000 | £1,750 - £1,800 | £1,860 - £1,960 |
£700,001 to £1,000,000 | £2,000 - £2,160 | £2,150 - £2,340 |
£1000,001+ | £2,550 | £2,710 |
If your conveyancer offers a 'no sale no fee' service, this means you won't have to pay the legal fee should the sale fall through. However, any costs spent on third-party disbursements such as conveyancing searches will still have to be paid.
Muve is an online conveyancer, offering a wide range of services, including conveyancing for property purchases.
Their online portal is easy to use and allows buyers to upload and submit documents around their schedule.
Regulated by the CLC and working for customers across England and Wales, their conveyancers go above and beyond to ensure all moves are stress-free and efficient.
We had a great experience with Muve Conveyancing during our recent home purchase. A big thank you to Zag and Senuri, who were both incredibly helpful throughout the entire process. They were always responsive, professional, and patient in explaining everything clearly. - Nikhil
4. Waterstone Legal
Waterstone Legal have over a decade of experience in the industry, helping buyers navigate their property purchase.
You will be assigned a solicitor who will help you with the legal aspects of your transaction. Putting customer service at the heart of everything they do, their team is both approachable and professional.
They are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), so you can have peace of mind that they follow protocol.
Mahmut did a great job of sifting through the conveyancing process and prioritising the important bits. They completed on time for me, no nonsense, would use them again. - Celestine
5. Nero Legal
Nero Legal offer expert conveyancing services across Scotland. Buyers are assigned a dedicated conveyancer who will be on hand to handle the legal aspect on their behalf.
Whether you're a first-time buyer or already on the property ladder, their team aims to make every transaction as smooth and efficient as possible.
They can be trusted to act to the highest standards as they are regulated by the Law Society of Scotland (LSS).
We had contacted various solicitors for quotes and Nero provided a competitive rate for a sale and purchase of property. Gemma was a great contact who arranged everything with clarity and speed, despite the changes in method of sale, highly recommend Nero to anyone. - Haaris
Still Looking?
If you're concerned that your property is outside the solicitors' thresholds, you can always discuss your circumstances with them to see if they can take on your case.
The best way to find the right solicitor for your property purchase is by filling in our conveyancing form, so you are matched with firms operating in your area.
Finding a Solicitor for Buying a House
Finding the right solicitor for the purchase will allow for a quick process. Follow our top tips to find a trusted solicitor when buying your house.
Comparison Websites
Comparison sites like Compare My Move give you the chance to compare conveyancing quotes. You will have a range of prices and companies to choose from.
Local Companies
Local conveyancers can be beneficial due to their knowledge of the area. They will have an accurate idea of how long the process will take based on the location.
Recommendations
Consider recommendations from family and friends if they have recently used a conveyancer. This can provide peace of mind, especially if the property is in the same area.
Reviews
Always read online reviews before hiring a solicitor to get an idea of their performance.
Do You Need a Solicitor to Buy a House?
First-time buyers should hire a solicitor to avoid any complications throughout the process. Your conveyancer will handle all legal aspects of your property purchase to ensure the process is as streamlined as possible.
How Much Does a Solicitor Charge when Buying a House?
The average solicitor fee when buying a freehold property is £1,576. This is based on the average UK house price of £292,000. This cost does not include any additional fees such as disbursements. Below are the average solicitor fees for buying a house based on the property value:
| Property Price | Freehold Solicitor Fee | Leasehold Solicitor Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £100K | £1,090 | £1,270 |
| £100K to £200K | £1,190 | £1,370 |
| £200K to £300K | £1,320 | £1,490 |
| £300K to £400K | £1,390 | £1,560 |
| £400K to £500K | £1,490 | £1,650 |
| £500K to £600K | £1,750 | £1,860 |
| £600K to £700K | £1,800 | £1,960 |
If your conveyancer offers a 'no sale no fee' service, this means you won't have to pay the legal fee should the sale fall through. However, any costs spent on third-party disbursements, such as conveyancing searches, will still have to be paid. You can pull out of a house sale or purchase at any point before exchanging of contracts in England and Wales. In Scotland, however, you are only able to pull out of a property sale before the conclusion of missives.
Prices are based on our cost data, received directly from user feedback.
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Extra Conveyancing Costs
You’ll also have to pay conveyancing disbursements and extra fees as part of your conveyancing fees. These include:
- Conveyancing searches
- Anti-money Laundering Checks
- Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Read more on: Stamp Duty on New Builds
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How Long Does the Conveyancing Process Take for Buying a House?
The average conveyancing process takes 8-12 weeks. The buying process has more stages compared to selling due to the conveyancing searches. Every conveyancing case will vary, and the total time it takes will depend on a few factors, including negotiations between the buyer and seller's solicitors.
At Compare My Move, we can connect you with up to 5 conveyancers to save you up to 70% on your conveyancing costs. All our conveyancing partners have passed our strict verification process for your peace of mind. This means they are all regulated by either the SRA, CLC, LSS, LSNI or CILEx.
Need a Surveyor?
Once you've found a conveyancer, you soon might need the help of a RICS property surveyor. Simply fill in our integrated conveyancing and surveying comparison form to get connected today.
You can compare companies through our integrated conveyancing and surveying form by filling out a few extra steps. We will then connect you with local conveyancers and surveyors to save on the whole process.
What Searches Do Solicitors Carry Out When Buying a House?
Your solicitor will have to order third-party services during the conveyancing process. These are called conveyancing disbursements and are an essential part of buying your house.
Local Authority Search
This provides key information about the property. Local Authority Searches are made up of two parts: the LLC1 and the CON29.
Environmental Search
This determines whether the property has been built on potentially contaminated land and highlights whether there are flood risks. This will also be needed if you are buying a house in a mining area.
Drainage and Water Search
This provides information on the location of sewers that serve the property. It will confirm whether the property is connected to the main water supply.
Title Search
This consists of the Title Register and Title Plan. Your solicitor will confirm with the Land Registry that the seller is the legal owner of the property.
Exchange of Contracts
The property transaction becomes legally binding at the exchange of contracts. This means there are financial and legal repercussions if either party pulls out of the sale. Some home buyers choose to purchase home buyers protection insurance to claim back some of the costs if a sale falls through before exchange of contracts. The exchanging of contracts takes place approximately 1-4 weeks before completion.
Completion Day
Completion day marks the end of the property transaction. This marks the legal transfer of ownership from the seller to the buyer. This occurs between 7-28 days after the exchange of contracts.
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Solicitor Fees for Buying a Leasehold Property
There are additional fees for buying a leasehold property:
| Service | Average Fee |
|---|---|
| Notice of Transfer Fee | £141 |
| Notice of Charge Fee | £114 |
| Deed of Covenant | £159 |
| Certificate of Compliance | £179 |
| Engrossment Fee | £145 |
| Leasehold Property Supplement Fee | £254 |
| Leasehold Management Information Pack | £355 |
When Should You Find a Solicitor?
The best time to start your solicitor search is during the property viewing stage. The sooner you find your solicitor, the smoother your moving process will be. When your house offer has been accepted, you will be able to instruct your solicitor to begin the conveyancing process.
Finding a Solicitor
Buying your first house is a huge step, and we know you'll want the right experts on board when it comes to the legal aspects of the purchase.
Compare My Move can match you with up to 5 conveyancing solicitors operating in your area. You'll have the opportunity to discuss your case with them and choose the best solicitor for your circumstances.
Whether you are looking for a local solicitor or someone who operates nationwide, our partners are verified and regulated, so that you can have peace of mind. This includes being regulated by one of the following:
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
- Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC)
- Law Society Scotland (LSS)
- Law Society Northern Ireland (LSNI)
- Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx)
