Where can I find a lawyer?

The Law Society, the body responsible for the regulation and representation of solicitors in the UK, can help you to find a lawyer online, or you can contact them by phoning 0870 606 6575.

They also produce a leaflet to help you understand the conveyancing process.

The Government has also provided online guides to various aspects of the property market.

Case Study 1

Emma and Jerry bought a 3-bedroom terraced house in South London in summer 2006:
House price: £495,000 Did you use a lawyer? Yes, we chose to employ our family solicitor to assist us with buying the house. He's very trustworthy and took care of everything. Did you consider doing your own legal work? No: buying a house is so stressful anyway, and some of the work solicitors undertake is quite complicated – all the background searches and so on. How much did you pay for legal services? 1200 pounds, which was worth it for the peace of mind Did you have any problems with the legal side of things? No, none at all. How long did the purchase take, from making an initial offer to finalizing the sale? About 6-7 weeks which was very quick.

Case Study 2

Ruth, age 23, recently bought a 2 bedroom flat in West Kensington.
Did you use a lawyer? Yes, I went to my family solicitor for assistance in buying the house. I think it's really important to use a trustworthy lawyer for your own peace of mind and because it's in your own interests to have the sale conducted professionally. Did you consider doing your own legal work? No, definitely not: buying a house involves a significant time commitment as it is. You can't make any errors with the legal side of things, and I think it's really important to have someone with legal training looking out for you. Towards the end of the transaction I was speaking to my lawyer on the phone 2 or 3 times a day. How much did you pay for legal services? 950 pounds Did you have any problems with the legal side of things? Yes, the lawyer uncovered a problem with the leasehold on the property during the search, and that had to be sorted out before we could transfer the titles on the property. How long did the purchase take, from making an initial offer to finalizing the sale? It took 10 weeks – mostly because of the delay caused by the problem with the leasehold.