Ways To Check Your Conveyancer Is Legitimate

by emmadigirank on November 22, 2012

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Buying and selling a property is a stressful process, therefore trusting a conveyancer may be difficult, however there are a few useful ways to check if your conveyancer is safe to use which will hopefully give you peace of mind.

What is a conveyancer?

First of all, it is worth understanding what a conveyancer does and how they are meant to help you. A conveyancer is responsible for the buying and selling of real property. Essentially a conveyancer will represent either a buyer or a seller and make sure the terms and conditions of the sale contract are reasonable and fair. Their role depends on whether they are representing a buyer or a seller.

A conveyancer working on behalf of a seller will request a copy of the land registry for the property being sold. Once this document has been received, the conveyancer will prepare a contract for sale. The document will include the details from the land registry and once completed will be handed over to the buyer’s solicitor.

A conveyancer working on behalf of a buyer usually will assess the contract of sale will would have been received from the seller’s lawyer. If the buyer is borrowing money to help pay off the mortgage, the conveyancer will be responsible for checking whether or not the buyer has sufficient funds to complete the sale.

Most conveyancers are regulated by the Law Society and only specialise in conveyancing. However, some conveyancers are solicitors who have changed their status to a licensed conveyancer.

How can you check if a conveyancer is regulated?

Checking if a conveyancer is regulated is fairly straightforward. All conveyancers must be regulated by either the Council of Licensed Conveyancers or the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Simply contact either of these establishments and ask whether they regulate your conveyancer.

Where can I find recommended conveyancers?

The best place to look for conveyancers who have a good reputation is the internet. Visit conveyancing review sites as these will display genuine and independent feedback. Be wary of some conveyancing forums, as many of the posts are spam, written by conveyancers boasting their own services. Also ask friends and family what conveyancer they used when they were either buying or selling their property. Many people in this situation feel more confident using a conveyancer that has been recommended to them by people close to them.

Are all conveyancers on the major conveyancing lender’s panels?

Conveyancers who are not on the major lender’s panel are not on there for a reason. The reason being they do not meet the criteria lenders require. Never use a conveyancer who is not on the major lender’s panel as this will increase the risk of mortgage fraud.

If you would like to find out more information about conveyancing, or you are worried you’re not using a safe conveyancer, contact Burt Brill and Cardens, specialist conveyancing solicitors Brighton.

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