Buying a new home can be costly and, on paper, handling your own conveyancing might sound like a smart way to save money. But in reality, DIY conveyancing often leads to delays, expensive mistakes, and unnecessary stress – especially if you’re not familiar with the legal process behind buying or selling a home.
Conveyancing isn’t just paperwork. It’s about making sure your property transaction is legally sound, your finances are protected, and nothing comes back to bite you after completion. And while it is legal to do it yourself, the risks can far outweigh the savings.
In this guide, our experienced conveyancing team explain what conveyancing actually involves, when DIY might be completely off the table, and the most common pitfalls people face when they try to go it alone.
How GloverPriest Can Help
Thinking of handling the conveyancing yourself? Before you commit to anything, it’s worth speaking to a professional. At GloverPriest, we’re here to help you understand exactly what’s involved and guide you through the legal process from start to finish.
Whether you’re buying, selling, or facing a complex issue like a title restriction or covenant, we’ll make sure everything is handled correctly – protecting you from costly delays, risks, or future claims.
What Does Conveyancing Actually Involve?
Conveyancing is the process that legally transfers property ownership from one person to another, whether that's buying or selling. It can also cover everything from checking the legal title of the home and liaising with the Land Registry to making sure there are no hidden issues that could affect your rights as a buyer or make selling the property difficult later.
An experienced conveyancer, amongst many other things, handles things like:
- Reviewing the property's title
- Checking the contract of sale (or drawing it up, if they're acting for the seller)
- Carrying out property searches (e.g. local authority, drainage, environmental, coal mining, etc.)
- Liaising between the mortgage lenders, estate agents, and other solicitors
- Dealing with the Land Registry and transferring ownership officially
- Submitting Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) Tax Returns
- Making sure all deadlines and legal requirements are met before completion
That’s why conveyancing is far more than just a box-ticking exercise. Every transaction is different, particularly when considering the age and location of the property, whether it's leasehold or freehold and many other factors.
How Long Does the Conveyancing Process Take?
Most straightforward purchases take around 8–12 weeks to complete – but it can take longer, especially if the property is leasehold, part of a long chain, or needs extra searches.
An experienced solicitor will usually spot potential delays early on and keep things moving behind the scenes. However, if you’re handling your own conveyancing and miss something important, the delay could cost you the deal or land you with a legal problem later down the line (which could be costly to resolve).
The Risks of DIY Conveyancing
On paper, doing your own conveyancing might seem like an option if you're looking to keep your costs down. In reality, though, it’s a complex legal process and getting it wrong could cost you far more than you save.
While there are many DIY conveyancing guides out there, there is nothing that can help you plan for all eventualities, increasing the risk factor even more. If you come across something unexpected that isn't fully understood – even something that appears small, like a restrictive covenant buried in the deeds – it could limit what you’re allowed to do with the property, or worse, leave you open to legal action further down the line without even realising.
Here are some of the most common risks people face when they try to go it alone:
- No access to regulated tools – Solicitors use regulated platforms to conduct property searches and checks. DIY conveyancers often can’t access the same tools, or may end up using unregulated alternatives.
- Lack of insurance protection – If a solicitor makes a mistake, their professional indemnity insurance can cover the cost. But if you make a mistake? You’ll be personally liable, and might not even realise until you come to resell the property later.
- Mortgage complications – Most lenders insist on using a solicitor to protect their interests. Even if you want to go solo, your bank (if you’re taking out a mortgage) will likely say no.
- Time and delays – Conveyancing isn’t something you can do in an evening after work. It takes time, coordination, and an understanding of how each legal step fits together.
- Legal complexity – Property law can be intricate, especially in leasehold or shared ownership cases. Missing a single clause or misunderstanding a contract condition could leave you exposed.
- Fraud risks – Property fraud is a growing problem in the UK. Without legal training, it’s much harder to spot red flags or protect yourself from sophisticated scams. Because of the growing fraud risks, even if you’re a cash buyer, you’ll still also need a regulated professional, like a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, to conduct your ID checks and submit any official forms.
- Chain issues – Even if your part of the process moves quickly, delays elsewhere in the chain can throw everything off. A solicitor helps manage those risks and keeps things on track.
- For most people, buying or selling a home is the biggest financial decision they’ll ever make. If something goes wrong, there’s often no easy (or cheap) way to fix it, especially if a mistake results in legal action.
Can You Legally Do Your Own Conveyancing?
The short answer is yes; in England and Wales, it is legal to handle your own conveyancing in certain situations. But unless you’ve got a legal background or a good understanding of the conveyancing process (along with its potential pitfalls and how to handle them), it’s rarely a good idea.
The process involves far more than paperwork. It includes time-sensitive checks, financial safeguards, and legal commitments that, if missed, can hold up your move or cost you thousands down the line. That’s why most people choose a qualified solicitor – even in straightforward cash purchases.
For mortgage buyers, it’s usually a non-starter. Most lenders won’t allow it, as they need a solicitor to act on their behalf.
When Can’t I Do My Own Conveyancing?
There are some situations where DIY conveyancing isn’t just risky, it’s effectively off the table - whether that's because it's highly unworkable, or simply impossible without a conveyancer involved. This includes if:
- You’re buying with a mortgage – Lenders require a solicitor to protect their interest in the property.
- You’re selling and your current property is mortgaged – A solicitor is needed to give formal undertakings that the mortgage will be repaid from the sale proceeds.
- The buyer’s solicitor requests legal undertakings – As a private seller, you likely won’t be able to give the legal assurances required.
- The property is leasehold – These often come with extra documents, managing agents, and legal steps that generally need professional oversight.
- It’s a Help to Buy or Shared Ownership scheme – These come with strict rules and legal documentation that must be handled by a professional.
- ID Checks, Anti-Money Laundering & Fraud Prevention - Even if you’re a cash buyer, you’ll still need a regulated professional to verify your ID and submit any documentation/forms to HM Land Registry.
Even if you're legally allowed to go it alone, it's worth asking yourself – would you really feel confident navigating the whole process without support?
What Happens if You Start DIY Conveyancing But Need Help Midway?
Starting out with DIY conveyancing might feel manageable at first – especially if the early paperwork seems straightforward. But things can quickly become more complex, and if you hit a legal hurdle or simply run out of time, passing it over to a solicitor isn’t always as simple as you might think.
Many law firms are reluctant to take on a half-completed conveyancing file, particularly if they weren’t involved in the initial stages. That’s because they’ll need to review everything from scratch, double-check for errors, and assume legal responsibility for work they didn’t carry out.
Even if you do find someone willing to step in, it could cause delays, incur extra costs, and potentially put your transaction at risk – especially if you're part of a tight chain.
The reality is, if you’re even slightly unsure about what’s involved or have limited legal knowledge/experience, it’s usually safer and more cost-effective to instruct a solicitor from the outset. You’ll save time, avoid duplication of work, and have peace of mind knowing your transaction is being handled professionally from day one.
Is DIY Conveyancing Ever a Good Idea?
For most people, the risks of DIY conveyancing far outweigh the benefits. But are there any circumstances where it could make sense?
In truth, very few property transactions are simple enough to justify going it alone. But there are a handful of scenarios where DIY conveyancing might seem doable – particularly if you're a cash buyer purchasing a freehold property with no mortgage, no chain, and no obvious legal complications.
That said, “simple” doesn’t always mean “safe.” Even the most straightforward purchase involves reviewing title deeds, checking boundaries, arranging searches, and handling the contract and transfer paperwork. These aren’t just admin tasks – they carry legal weight. Get something wrong, and you could face delays, extra costs, or issues when you try to sell the property later.
So, while it’s not illegal to handle things yourself, it’s very rarely a good idea. In most cases, having a solicitor manage the legal side of things isn’t just about peace of mind; it’s about protecting your investment from start to finish.
How GloverPriest Can Help
DIY conveyancing might seem tempting at first glance, but the legal risks and long-term consequences can be far greater than the savings. At GloverPriest, our experienced conveyancing solicitors are here to take the pressure off and make sure your transaction is handled properly from day one.
Whether you're buying, selling, or remortgaging, we'll guide you through the legal process, deal with third parties on your behalf, and protect your interests every step of the way.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance tailored to your specific circumstances, please speak to a qualified solicitor.