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My eldest DNA has just made an offer on a property in Swindon. Having not used anyone for twenty years i’m somewhat out of that loop. So, can anyone recommend an inexpensive conveyancing organisation suitable for a FTB?

Any reason you want a conveyor and not a solicitor that specialises in property?

Property is theft.

Because from experience a conveyancer is about 1/3 price of a solicitor for exactly the same service....

I wouldn't generalise on service levels which is why word of mouth recommendation is so worthwhile.  

In terms of legal knowledge (as opposed to the merely procedural), my experience is that there would be significantly fewer technically limited solicitors. Assuming no nasty surprises, also bear in mind that what you buy, one day you sell so it is as well that all bases are covered.  

As a buyer, NEVER take an estate agent's recommendation (they very commonly take a commission and act for the seller).

I would entirely agree on basing decisions on recommendations, although the two we have used over the years were both recommendations and the traditional lawyers were a total pain in the arse, long delay being caused by solicitor fucking off on holiday not telling us or the vendor (and staff not telling us for weeks when we rang to chase) and no colleague picking it up until we finally found out and kicked off (whereupon a colleague took over and solved it in 2 days!)

Also found there to be no difference in skills/ability between either, we have now used the same conveyancer for three transactions (one sale, one purchase and one fiddle around with title), in the case of the sale it was in no way a simple transaction, the title had various restrictions on it which had to be worked though, which they navigated us through at no extra cost to that agreed before they knew the probs. The purchase was a little awkward as the house was not registered at the LR which again they sorted with zero hassle, dealing with a grade A traditional solicitor arsehole who was acting for the other side (king of the 1 line letter which we knew was costing his client a couple of hundred quid a time, when the matter could be solved via a 2 minute telephone conversation) and the title work was also sorted quickly and cheaply!

Keep well away from any commercial recommendations, not sure what its like down there but most have tie ins up here.

I found them to be 3/4 the price when I got some quotes recently. Some real cowboys nearly half.

As a buyer, NEVER take an estate agent's recommendation (they very commonly take a commission and act for the seller).


Partially why i’m asking for recommendations. Back in the day there was limited options and mortgage lenders oft took a commission from their recommendations for legal advice also.

So, any recommendations from anyone. Being anflat it is leasehold with about 150 years on it.

We have dealt with a firm in Wood Street, who I think are called Angel Wilkins.  They gave us a fixed price quotation for the conveyancing, very efficient and friendly - abd approachable should problems occur.

I'd expect to pay a modest premium for leasehold as they are quite technical.  I see that this isn't always the case. 

150 years sounds a long enough lease to avoid potential costs down the line for having to extend the lease.  So long as the maintenance is being run both effectively and without exploitation, it sounds promising.  You'd want to get a feeling that there are no "pending" big jobs, like a new roof or whatever, unless there is an appropriate sinking fund.

Good luck with recommendations. I think the legal advice for a first time purchaser of a leasehold property is important.

I could gladly have recommended a sound solicitor or licenced conveyancer in Surrey. However local is not only more convenient but also advantageous in terms of local background knowledge, imo.  Looks like Ronnie has been of practical help!

Francis George in Old Town.

Thank you for the recs. Passed on to my ungrateful snowflake entitled DNA sample 🤣

 I wouldn't worry hugely about local when I sold the place in Wales I used a local conveyancer up here as it was easier.


Angel Wilkins, sounds like a porn star to me.....  :D