Legal advice from Chris Illingworth, an associate solicitor specialising in residential conveyancing based at FDR Law, fdrlaw.co.uk

Question

My estate agent has made a recommendation about a conveyancer, but can we choose our own?

Answer

The short answer is yes.

There should never be any obligation for you to use their recommended conveyancer, and you are perfectly entitled to instruct your own legal representative to handle the conveyancing process for the buying or selling of your property.

It is not unusual however for estate agents, finance lenders, mortgage brokers, advisors or property developers to make such recommendations.

There are a number of reasons for this;

n They know and trust a solicitor so have a good working relationship with them and their team and you may be told that this helps with understanding how the process is progressing

n They have a referral arrangement with a solicitor’s firm for which a fee is paid to them, and this may be added to your bill

n Similarly, they may have in-house conveyancing companies that they are personally incentivised on referring clients to. Again this may result in additional charges for you as they may include a referral fee

We would recommend that if you are being advised that the costs are incorporated into a package with your finances, estate agent fees or the property you are buying, then do ask for a full written detailed quote, including any possible extras before you make a commitment.

It is worth noting that you shouldn’t choose a solicitor based on price alone, their experience and service is important and it is vital that you are confident that they are fully able to represent you effectively and efficiently.

For more information, contact Chris Illingworth on 01925 739300 or email chris.illingworth@fdrlaw.co.uk.