Requirements · Buying a home
Conveyancing: the steps and what a buyer must provide
Last updated 25 October 2026 · 3 sources listed · Reading time about 3 minutes
Short answer
Conveyancing is the legal transfer of ownership. It typically involves identity and funds checks, reviewing the seller's title and contract pack, local and environmental searches, raising enquiries, exchanging contracts and completing. Buyers must supply identification, proof of funds and timely answers. The process and terminology differ between jurisdictions, so rely on a regulated legal professional.
Who this is for: A buyer about to instruct a conveyancer who wants to understand the stages from offer to completion and which tasks fall to them.
What to evaluate
Regulated professional
The conveyancer holds your money and handles binding documents, so regulation and insurance matter.
How to check: Confirm they are authorised by the relevant legal regulator and ask about indemnity cover and complaints routes.
Identity and source of funds
Anti-money-laundering rules require legal professionals to verify who you are and where the money comes from.
How to check: Prepare identification, address proof and evidence of savings, gifts or sale proceeds early.
Title and contract pack review
The seller's documents show what you are buying, including boundaries, rights and restrictions.
How to check: Ask the conveyancer to explain any restrictions, easements or unusual clauses in plain language.
Searches
Searches reveal planning history, roads, drainage, flooding and other local matters.
How to check: Ask which searches are recommended for the location and what each one covers.
Exchange and completion timing
Contracts become binding at exchange, and dates must align with mortgage funds and any sale in a chain.
How to check: Agree the target dates, insurance start and what happens if either side delays.
Communication
Delays often stem from unanswered queries, so a clear process reduces stress.
How to check: Ask how updates are provided and who handles your file day to day.
Comparison
| Stage | What happens | What the buyer does |
|---|---|---|
| Instruction and checks | Conveyancer verifies identity and funds | Provide documents and sign engagement terms |
| Contract pack and title review | Seller documents are examined | Read the summary and raise concerns about use or restrictions |
| Searches and enquiries | Local and environmental checks are ordered and queries sent to the seller | Decide on optional searches and respond quickly to questions |
| Mortgage and survey alignment | Lender conditions and survey findings are reconciled | Pass on offer documents and report conditions |
| Exchange and completion | Contracts are exchanged then funds transferred and keys released | Arrange insurance, final funds and move-in logistics |
Decision worksheet
Rate up to three options against this guide’s own criteria. It runs in your browser and saves only on this device. It is a thinking aid, not a recommendation.
1. Have you checked each criterion?
0 of 6 criteria checked.
2. Compare options (0 = fails or unknown, 3 = meets it well)
| Criterion | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulated professional | |||
| Identity and source of funds | |||
| Title and contract pack review | |||
| Searches | |||
| Exchange and completion timing | |||
| Communication | |||
| Total (max 18) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Questions to ask before you commit
- Are you authorised by the legal regulator in this jurisdiction?
- Who will handle my file and how can I reach them?
- What is included in your fee and what costs are extra?
- Which searches do you recommend and why?
- How will you explain any problems found in the title or contract?
- What do you need from me before you can proceed?
- How are funds transferred, and how do you protect against payment fraud?
- What happens to my costs if the sale does not proceed?
Typical trade-offs
Use a local firm
- Upside
- Familiar with area practices and searches.
- Downside
- May have less capacity to handle many matters quickly.
Use an online or remote service
- Upside
- Convenient and standardised steps.
- Downside
- Contact may be less personal, and complex matters can need escalation.
Exchange quickly to secure the purchase
- Upside
- Reduces the risk of gazumping or withdrawal in places where it occurs.
- Downside
- Leaves less time to check everything and creates binding commitments.
Common mistakes
- Delaying identity and funds documents. Late paperwork is a common cause of slow transactions.
- Not reading the summary of the contract pack. Ask questions before exchange, as afterwards you are bound.
- Trusting emailed payment instructions without verification. Phone a known number to confirm bank details before transferring money.
- Choosing a conveyancer without checking regulation. Unregulated providers can leave you without recourse.
- Failing to arrange buildings insurance from the point risk passes. In many places that is at exchange, not completion.
Related questions
What is the difference between exchange and completion?
Exchange of contracts is the moment the agreement becomes legally binding in jurisdictions that use this system, usually accompanied by payment of a deposit. Completion is when the balance of the price is paid, ownership transfers and you receive the keys. The gap between them can be short or longer, and during it you may carry the risk of damage to the property, so insurance is typically required from exchange.
Can a purchase fall through after I have started?
Yes. Until contracts are exchanged, or the equivalent binding step in your jurisdiction, either party can generally withdraw. Reasons include survey findings, mortgage problems, chain collapses or changes of mind. Costs paid for searches, surveys and legal work may be lost. Ask your conveyancer how risk is managed locally and whether any lock-in or reservation agreements are available, and understand what you would forfeit before signing.
What do searches reveal?
Local authority searches report planning decisions, building regulation approvals, road adoption, and nearby proposals. Environmental searches cover flooding, contamination and ground stability. Drainage and water searches show connection details and public sewer locations. Additional searches may be recommended for mining or rail projects. The right set depends on location, and your lender may require some. They help you understand risk but do not substitute for a survey.
How do I avoid conveyancing fraud?
Fraudsters impersonate legal firms and send fake bank details close to completion. Always confirm account details by calling a number you obtained independently, never from the email itself, and be suspicious of last-minute changes. Ask how your firm communicates payment instructions and consider using secure portals. Report any suspicious message to your conveyancer and your bank immediately, since early action can sometimes recover funds.
Do I need a conveyancer for every type of purchase?
Requirements differ by country. Some places allow buyers to handle transfers themselves, though lenders usually insist on a regulated professional where a mortgage is involved. Others use notaries or attorneys as part of the legal process. Whatever the route, the tasks are similar: verifying title, checking restrictions and transferring funds safely. Check your local regulator for the rules and what protections apply to buyers.
Sources and further reading
These pages were reachable when we last checked. They informed definitions and rules referred to above; they do not endorse this guide. Where rules differ by country, check the authority for your location.
- Buying or selling your home — UK Government, retrieved 27 October 2026
- Information for consumers — Solicitors Regulation Authority, retrieved 27 October 2026
- HM Land Registry — UK Government, retrieved 27 October 2026
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