What to expect from online conveyancing

With so many online conveyancing options available when buying and selling property, we look at what to expect from online conveyancing, how much it costs, tips for finding the best online conveyancing solicitor and what to beware of.

Angela Kerr Director, Editor

What is online conveyancing?

Online conveyancing is when the legal process of buying or selling a property takes place solely online or over the phone. You won’t meet your conveyancer face to face.

However, some High Street conveyancers offer online aspects to the conveyancing process which can speed things up. Read on for more.

What to expect from online conveyancing quotes

When you get your online conveyancing quote, check how fees are broken down. There are two parts to conveyancing fees:

• The legal fees: This is what the conveyancer or solicitor charges for doing the work
• The disbursements: This is what third parties charge for certain services like local authority searches.

Online conveyancing quotes may be cheaper but don’t fell into the trap of seeing a cheap headline quote, then finding out you need to pay for lots of add-ons later on that push up the cost of conveyancing considerably.

To avoid this, ensure you get a full list of all the charges upfront so you can make a fair comparison with other services. Read more in our guide on How much do conveyancing fees cost? Also make sure you ask whether the company has indemnity insurance and what it will cover you for in case they make costly errors.

Compare conveyancing quotes from regulated and reviewed conveyancing solicitors that cover your area. Look for firms with online systems with online case management:

Types of online conveyancing fees to consider

When you’re searching for an online conveyancer you’ll see different types of online conveyancing fees offered, including:

Fixed-fee conveyancing

Often called fixed-price conveyancing or fixed-rate conveyancing, this is when the price you are quoted for conveyancing at the start of the process should be the amount you pay. However, the term ‘fixed-fee’ usually relates to the legal work your conveyancer undertakes, not the conveyancing disbursements. Disbursements should be included in the quote but for example if more searches are required this cost will increase. However, while fixed-fee conveyancing is common in the UK some solicitors charge an hourly rate. So be sure to check.

What is no sale no fee conveyancing?

Many online conveyancing solicitors offer a ‘no sale, no fee guarantee’. This means that if your sale falls through, you won’t have to pay the full conveyancing bill. Some may waive the legal fees, but it’s wise to get a clear explanation of what the guarantee covers before you hire their services. You can find out more with our guide to no sale no fee conveyancing.

How to find the best online conveyancer

There are important steps to take to find the best online conveyancer. These are:

1. Check the customer reviews

Whether your conveyancing solicitor operates online only or works from an office local to you, there will be some that offer a brilliant service at a great price while others will charge over the odds and leave a lot to be desired.

For that reason, it’s a good idea to check out the online reviews before making your choice. Our handy Compare Conveyancing Quotes tool gives you instant quotes from regulated and reviewed conveyancing solicitors.

2. Get the best price

Shop around online for quotes and make sure you compare like for like. BUT do not automatically choose the firm recommended to you by your estate agent or mortgage broker without comparing quotes and checking their service first.

Here is a list of questions to ask your conveyancing solicitor before you decide on which firm to instruct.

Get instant conveyancing quotes.  Look for firms with online systems where you can verify ID Online and get real-time case updates. Get quotes now:

How to instruct an online conveyancer

Instructing an online conveyancer is straightforward: you may be able to do this on the online conveyancer’s website, by email or by phone. You should be able to upload the necessary documents on the online conveyancer’s online platform.

How does an online conveyancer communicate?

How an online conveyancer communicates varies by firm: some offer contact via email, online chat or dedicated client portals. However, some online conveyancers will also be available to contact on the phone too.

What is online ID verification?

Conveyancers are legally required to obtain satisfactory evidence of their client’s identity to meet with money laundering regulations. With online conveyancing, and sometimes if you’re using a high street conveyancer, this ID verification can be done online.

The online ID verification process involves providing your conveyancer with photocopy evidence of your ID and then check them against an online database.

However, there is a divide in terms of who is most likely to verify ID digitally. A study in January 2024 by Thirdfort  found 14% of homeowners working in professional or managerial jobs used digital tools to verify their identity with a property professional compared to just 4% of homeowners in skilled, semi-skilled or unskilled jobs.

Bear in mind, online ID verification won’t work for everyone, for example, you may fail if you haven’t lived in your current address for more than a year or you’re not on the electoral role.

Compare conveyancing quotes from regulated and reviewed conveyancing solicitors that cover your area.

What documents will online conveyancers send you?

Once you’ve instructed an online conveyancer, the conveyancing process works in much the same way as if you use a High Street conveyancer. So documents you’ll be sent include:

• The draft contract of sale and supporting documents
• Property checks and local authority searches
• Contract of sales will be sent to you to sign and return by post or in person.

Pros and cons of online conveyancing

If you’re considering online conveyancing you should consider:

Advantages of online conveyancing

• Online conveyancing can be cheaper: In many cases, online conveyancing can be cheaper as the firms as fewer overheads. But make sure you get a breakdown of exactly what’s included so that you don’t get drawn in by a cheap quote then find out later that you have to pay more.
• Conveyancers don’t need local knowledge: Conveyancing online shouldn’t put you at a disadvantage in terms of local knowledge. You are just as likely to find out about local developments or other factors that might impact your purchase through the local authority searches that are carried out. Choosing a good conveyancer will have much more of a bearing on the quality of advice they provide than their postcode.
• Speed and transparency: Online conveyancers usually offer online case tracking, which helps you to keep an eye on progress and provides a degree of transparency. Also, being able to upload key documents and sign documents digitally, help parts of the conveyancing process to take place earlier, thereby speeding up the conveyancing process. However, if the firm is juggling a heavy caseload there is no guarantee of your case proceeding any faster. Again, making sure you instruct a good conveyancer is key.

Before you appoint a conveyancer, it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the conveyancing process including how long conveyancing takes so that you know what to expect.

Get instant conveyancing quotes.  Look for firms with online systems where you can verify ID Online and get real-time case updates. Get quotes now:

Disadvantages of online conveyancing

However you should also consider:

• If you want face to face support: Before choosing conveyancing online, consider what support you need. Are you comfortable with interacting digitally or do you prefer face-to-face contact? Many online conveyancers operate a call centre-type approach. On the plus side, you can often contact them outside normal office hours and have an online system for progressing your case from the comfort of your own home. On the downside, you may not be given a single contact to deal with. Conversely, if you use a local firm you will be able to pop into the office and check on progress or apply the pressure in person if things are taking too long.

Do High Street conveyancers use digital services?

The Land Registry has announced ambitious plans to make the process of buying and selling property paperless by 2025. But while some High Street conveyancers let you complete ID checks online, send documents electronically and records are increasingly digitised via case management systems, this is not the case for all conveyancers. It varies by conveyancer so don’t assume they will offer digital services. Be sure to check.

Conveyancing online vs the High Street: which is best?

As long as you’re comparing like-for-like when you get your quotes and have an indication of customer ratings and reviews, then there isn’t much in the decision between high street or online conveyancing solicitors. In our opinion it comes down to the quality of the conveyancing solicitor on your case and you being an informed and responsive client.

Compare conveyancing quotes from regulated and reviewed conveyancing solicitors that cover your area.

Online conveyancing for leasehold properties

If you’re buying a leasehold property, it’s vital you instruct an experienced conveyancer who will explain what your lease means for you, and any restrictions and costs involved. Make sure you grill your conveyancer and are comfortable they have looked closely at the lease for any unfavourable clauses that could cost you dearly in the future.

You may want to make sure that you have one conveyancer who works on your case who you can speak to when you need. If you can’t find an online conveyancer who you’re happy with, a traditional conveyancer may be a better bet. The best way to reassure yourself is to have a good understanding of the kind of difficulties that might arise so that you can ask the right questions. Read more about the differences between buying freehold and leasehold in our guide as well as the potential pitfalls and disputes over service charges. Forewarned is forearmed.

Could I do my own conveyancing?

It is possible to do the conveyancing yourself, but beware there are risks and it could end up costing you more in the long run. Read more about DIY conveyancing to understand this further.

Video: Conveyancing process explained