Would you use conveyancing solicitor recommended by estate agent?

[alittleteapot]

I'm selling my flat and the estate agents have recommended the solicitor that they also recommended for the hip report. I don't know if it's a good idea or not to go with someone they've got a relationship with already. Thoughts?

Get quotes from a few firms. Use someone local. I wouldn't worry about EA recommending them

No, most estate agents will get a 'referall fee' from conveyancing solicitors. You will get the best price on your HIP from a local independent supplier - look on yell.com. Then call around local solicitors for a quote - they all need the work right now, so you should get a good price.

Ask people you know who they've used, would they recommend them? Ring round for quotes. My experience was the EA-recommended solicitors were a fair bit more expensive than the conveyancing solicitor we used who came recommended via my Mum's work colleague.

No
Your solicitor should only be interested in protecting your interests. Whilst it is unlikely it is not impossible for your interests and those of your estate agent to be opposing.
Get your own solicitor.

Should be no problem. Better than some conveyancing factory miles away - avoid those like the plague and get a proper, local solicitor, which is probably what they have recommended.

thanks all. i've not gone with the estate agent's recommendation but still not sure why. and the one i've gone with is not local but assures me that's not a problem - she's one dp has used before. hopefully it'll be fine.

NO! I wouldn't use anyone recommended by my dodgy estate agent!!!!

no , they get a kick back for doing so and ultimately you pay for it. Often they aren't local so can't speed up searches for example.