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Original poster

conveyance solicitor? Recommendations for use or stay away

34 replies

RJ22 · 12/05/2020 16:33

Hi,

We are planning on buying our first house. I have been reading about solicitors and just wanted to ask if you have any recommendations or had a bad experience, so we can narrow our search and start asking for quotes. We are trying to buy in Manchester area, but for what I read, it doesn't really matter where the solicitor is based isn't it?

Many thanks for your help.

OP posts:
bravotango · 12/05/2020 16:40

Our mortgage broker put us in touch with ours - (some sort of commission thing) - they were based in Cardiff and we are in Liverpool. It was absolutely fine and they had an online portal where all documents were uploaded and then we had to sign and reupload etc. This was actually a great feature that I would like again, even if the solicitor was local. Plus, they were fine with my ringing constantly with little queries (as a nervous irritating first time buyer). However they were a large chain with loads of bad feedback on MN so our experience might not be reflective Wink

catndogslife · 12/05/2020 17:06

but for what I read, it doesn't really matter where the solicitor is based isn't it?
Our buyers solicitors were really useless and slow. They weren't local and this showed as a lot of questions were totally inappropriate.

Smallgoon · 12/05/2020 17:15

I used a fantastic lady but she was based in central London, so guessing she may cost a little more than those based outside of London (I'm not entirely sure). Happy to recommend her. I was introduced to her via recommendation myself.

BammBamm · 12/05/2020 17:47

Ours is fabulous. They are called Complete Convey and are based near Preston. Also reasonably priced, very efficient and professional.

MissLemon18 · 12/05/2020 17:57

Ours have been brilliant and have a few branches in Manchester (Alfred Newton, we're using the Romiley office). Very prompt and great with updates/communication.

It's generally better to use a firm local to you as you quite often will need to drop off things like certificates/guarantees and your contracts will need to be signed etc. Obviously you can post certain things but that adds extra time on.

Also, a local firm might have more knowledge of planning/developments in pipeline especially if it comes to greenbelt or agricultural land. 👍

MissLemon18 · 12/05/2020 18:05

OP, just thought--are you going ahead with the house with garden not on the deeds? If so, does that house happen to be a terraced cottage down a steep track in Saddleworth?

If so, might have some useful info for you. 👍

Comefromaway · 12/05/2020 18:09

The people we bought off used an online company and they were dreadful. We were waiting for ages for documents relating to queries that hadn’t been passed on to the sellers. In the end the estate agent contacted them for us and the sellers changed solicitor.

So I’d always advise a local company.

WithIcePlease · 12/05/2020 18:20

I bought a vacant possession with cash and it took 8 months as vendor used a conveyancing solicitors company who were appalling. He changed after a few months.
Also sold a vacant property and buyer had similar trouble with one of these companies - he said that no one seemed to have ownership to keep the process moving and issues just picked up by the next person following his contact. He changed solicitors too.
I however use a solicitor who specialises in conveyancing! He's a one man band and keeps it going nicely

Eeyoresstickhouse · 12/05/2020 18:23

I have always used a local solicitor. These conveyancing firms seem to be useless. They take forever and my brother had no end of trouble with his one. It might be a bit more expensive but worth it for the biggest purchase of your life.

MinnieMountain · 12/05/2020 19:00

Look at reviews OP.
I'm a solicitor who's worked for both high street law firms and licensed conveyancers. You get good and bad in both.
Unless it's something specialist, being local doesn't matter much these days. Although it is handy for returning documents Smile

mumsy27 · 13/05/2020 03:41

i can recommend premier property lawyers, online based with great and useful portal showing the progress.
good value around 500+expenses,no moving no fees.
if your property is straight forward purchase, don't bother going with local, more expensive.

Jo4Laurie · 13/05/2020 09:58

@RJ22 I am going to use our family solicitor in Lancaster who I rate. They did conveyancing when my parents house was sold. DM me if you want contact details.

Original poster
RJ22 · 18/05/2020 15:04

Hi @MissLemon18MissLemon18 thank you for the suggestion. No, we gave up on that one, too much hassle.

OP posts:
Bromeliad · 18/05/2020 16:27

We used Saville's in Cheadle, Stockport. They were brilliant if you're buying around there.

WinterAndRoughWeather · 18/05/2020 20:22

We used Rothwell and Evans in Swindon when we sold our place last year, they were really great.

WinterAndRoughWeather · 18/05/2020 20:23

That should have read Swinton. Bloody auto correct.

Original poster
RJ22 · 18/05/2020 20:29

Thank you @winterandroughweather. I will look at your suggestion :)

OP posts:
Judeslife · 18/05/2020 20:29

Had a terrible experience with DC law, the entire chain came v close to collapsing after they missed the 7th proposed exchange date. We had everyone chasing them, all sets of estate agents, all of the solicitors, our sellers- it was madness. Our sellers and their sellers were using 'real' solicitors firms rather than the bulk buy conveyancing firm we went for and they were much more professional and knowledgeable.

My notice of transfer took 6 months and endless chasing from the sellers to go through and I believe some money is still being held by DC law which they 'forgot' to transfer on completion but they won't respond to anything. Definitely stay away! They made an already stressful process almost unbearable for every one.

WinterAndRoughWeather · 18/05/2020 21:25

Yes our buyers were using an online tick-box conveyancing firm and it was a pain in the arse. Our firm was constantly chasing them.

Grumpybuttons · 18/05/2020 21:46

DC Law (online conveyancers, I think) have recently been absolutely horrendous (in the last month)! And their manner is awful too (they squabble openly) and write aggressive emails Sad

Grumpybuttons · 18/05/2020 21:51

@Judeslife had no idea you named DC Law too!

PeppermintPasty · 18/05/2020 22:12

I’m a conveyancer and we all groan whenever DC Law are involved in a chain! So it’s not just you as clients who can’t be doing with them!

Same goes for Premier Property Lawyers. I’m glad one poster had a good experience with them, but I suspect that’s pretty rare!! They are generally dreadful, slow and inefficient, though they have one or two decent people working there, swimming against the tide.

Judeslife · 19/05/2020 07:24

@PeppermintPasty @Grumpybuttons I'm glad it's not just me- I'd naively believed all the amazing 'reviews' on google which made the reality of the situation a million times worse!

MinnieMountain · 19/05/2020 10:16

Don't use Enact either. They're notoriously bad.

swimster01 · 19/05/2020 10:28

I have bought three houses and had a bad experience with two conveyancers (so either unlucky or it says something about conveyancer skills).

I would look for a conveyancing firm with a physical office and who has been in business for many years. The reason being that if you find out further down the line that the conveyancer was negligent - which could be several years - there is a chance they are still in business to sort it out for you at no charge.

I would also ensure that you ask that any advice they give you - at whatever point in the sale - is written down and a copy provided to you.

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