DIY Conveyancing

whambam

Hi,

Has anyone done this themselves without involving a solicitor to buy a home? It's all search reports, which can be requested individually.

Thanks.

AnotherJoe

This was a thing 20 and 30 years ago. The problem most recent DIYers have come up against is matching money laundering requirements and many solicitors won't deal with DIYers or want a solicitor for that who will charge as much as doing the whole job.
Is a mortgage involved? Are you buying from a third party or family?

pphillips

If you are taking out a mortgage or the property is leasehold then DIY conveyancing is probably not possible.

Otherwise, only do your own conveyancing if you know what your doing as the main reason people use conveyancers is so that they will have someone to sue if something important is overlooked.

I have done my own conveyancing before but only for selling, which was much simpler.

ThePants999

pphillips wrote: »

I have done my own conveyancing before but only for selling, which was much simpler.

And if you have a mortgage, it's probably not possible even with selling. Mortgage lenders place a charge on the property, and will only remove it when repaid. Unless you can pay off the mortgage without the sale monies, this creates a catch-22 - mortgage lenders won't remove their charge without being repaid, and the buyer's solicitor won't give you the money with a charge still on the property. Solicitors solve this problem with "undertakings" - basically binding promises that their license to practice law are staked upon. Your solicitor will give an undertaking to the mortgage lender that the sale monies will be used to repay the mortgage, and an undertaking to the buyer's solicitor that the charge will be removed shortly after completion. Without a solicitor, you can't make a similar promise that they can trust.

G_M

whambam wrote: »

Has anyone done this themselves without involving a solicitor to buy a home? It's all search reports, which can be requested individually.

Thanks.

Yes I've done it a number of times: mosting selling but also on purchases.


No, it's not "all search reports" (though that is part of it) and the fact that you think this makes me advise you strongly either not to attempt ii,or to spend 3 months learning wht's involved before deciding whether after that you still wish to try.

whambam

The fees are ridiculous that's why. I seen my solicitor who said it would cost £1000, however when dealing with another matter a deceased estate issue charged nothing.

Charging £1000 is okay for someone in full time work earning NMW.

But for someone solely on benefits the charge should be max £300 imo.

Doozergirl

whambam wrote: »

The fees are ridiculous that's why. I seen my solicitor who said it would cost £1000, however when dealing with another matter a deceased estate issue charged nothing.

Charging £1000 is okay for someone in full time work earning NMW.

But for someone solely on benefits the charge should be max £300 imo.

The solicitor isn't on benefits. The whole property scene involves large amounts of money and these people trained for a long time at a cost.

What's £1,000 for? To buy or sell? If you're buying (referring to searches) then presumably you have than benefit money.

People have explained the legal barriers that could affect you. I'd point out that solicitors carry full professional indemnity insurance, so if they make a mistake, you're covered. If you make a mistake, it could be a LOT more expensive than £1,000.

Get some more quotes. Thinking it's all too expensive is a good reason for not doing it yourself. That's underestimating the risk and importance of getting things right and having the appropriate knowledge and experience.

kinger101

whambam wrote: »

The fees are ridiculous that's why. I seen my solicitor who said it would cost £1000, however when dealing with another matter a deceased estate issue charged nothing.

Charging £1000 is okay for someone in full time work earning NMW.

But for someone solely on benefits the charge should be max £300 imo.

Your employment status doesn't alter the amount of work involved. It's just an additional cost of buying I'm afraid. If you really want to be ripped off, wait until you pay estate agent's fees for selling a place.

In the meantime, get more quotes, but make sure you compare like with like.

allypally26

£300 barely covers the searches.

Just because you are on benefits does not mean a solicitor should do the work for nothing.

I bet you don’t go into a restaurant have a three course meal get up and say I shouldn’t have to pay I’m on benefits and expect to walk away without paying.

in_my_wellies

We did our own 35 years ago, just buying. We drove past the house on a Sunday morning, called at the door and shook hands on the deal. There were a few complications (LR lost the deeds for 17 weeks) but the vendor stuck to his word and we bridged. All OK in the end.
I wouldn't even think about it these days. Much more legal paperwork to sort out.

£1000 is cheap. My son has just been quoted nearer £2000 all in

whambam

Doozergirl wrote: »

The solicitor isn't on benefits. The whole property scene involves large amounts of money and these people trained for a long time at a cost.

What's £1,000 for? To buy or sell? If you're buying (referring to searches) then presumably you have than benefit money.

People have explained the legal barriers that could affect you. I'd point out that solicitors carry full professional indemnity insurance, so if they make a mistake, you're covered. If you make a mistake, it could be a LOT more expensive than £1,000.

Get some more quotes. Thinking it's all too expensive is a good reason for not doing it yourself. That's underestimating the risk and importance of getting things right and having the appropriate knowledge and experience.

I don't care what the solicitor is on or his welfare I am only concerned about my and those close to me they treat you as a national insurance number that's all you are to authorities they do not know anything about you nor do they want to.

allypally26 wrote: »

£300 barely covers the searches.

Just because you are on benefits does not mean a solicitor should do the work for nothing.

I bet you don’t go into a restaurant have a three course meal get up and say I shouldn’t have to pay I’m on benefits and expect to walk away without paying.

Well, people get legal aid for representation and conveyancing fees depending on circumstances.

What if disabled people are being threatened and harassed by neighbours and conveyancing fees are a barrier towards moving home.