DIY Conveyancing: Can You Do Conveyancing Yourself?

What Is DIY Conveyancing?

DIY conveyancing — also called "do it yourself" conveyancing — is when you act as your own conveyancer, managing all the legal and administrative steps required to transfer a property. It is uncommon and is generally only viable for cash buyers or sellers with no outstanding mortgage. Hiring a conveyancer or solicitor remains best practice for the vast majority of transactions.

How to Do Your Own Conveyancing

If you're set on attempting DIY conveyancing, here's what the process involves:

1. Arrange conveyancing searches once your offer is accepted — local authority, environmental, and drainage searches are all required.
2. Research the exact meaning of every piece of legal jargon in the contract pack before you sign anything.
3. Confirm your details are sent to the seller's solicitor and that communication channels are established.
4. Review the draft contract and title documents sent by the seller's solicitor — check for restrictions, covenants, boundary issues, and anything unusual.
5. Raise enquiries with the other side if anything in the paperwork is unclear, missing, or concerning.
6. If you're buying, arrange completion funds and ensure they reach the seller's solicitor on the agreed completion date.
7. After completion, submit the relevant property tax return (SDLT in England, LTT in Wales) and apply to register the transfer at HM Land Registry.

Because you're handling everything yourself, you'll be in direct control of every decision and timeline — but that also means every delay, mistake, or missed deadline falls on you.

How Much Could You Save with DIY Conveyancing?

DIY conveyancing only saves you the solicitor's legal fee — you still pay all disbursements, Stamp Duty, and any other third-party costs. Typical savings are:

What You Save	What You Still Pay
Solicitor's legal fee: typically £700 – £1,700	Conveyancing searches: £250 – £450
—	Land Registry registration fee: £20 – £1,105
—	Stamp Duty / LTT (if applicable)
—	Other disbursements (bank transfer, bankruptcy search, etc.)

If you're buying with a mortgage, your lender will appoint their own solicitor regardless — and you will be expected to cover those fees. In that scenario, DIY conveyancing saves you very little and adds significant risk.

5 Risks of DIY Conveyancing

1. Delays from inexperience: While you remove the waiting time for solicitor responses, a lack of legal knowledge can lead to major delays that threaten the whole transaction — especially if enquiries aren't raised properly or paperwork is incomplete.
2. No legal protection: As your own conveyancer, you are legally accountable for errors. You'd need your own indemnity insurance, which can be costly to obtain privately.
3. High risk of costly mistakes: Property law contains complex terminology. Misunderstanding a clause, restriction, or covenant can result in expensive remediation — often far exceeding what you would have paid a professional.
4. Limited mortgage options: Most lenders require a professional from their approved panel to act on your behalf. If you insist on DIY, your lender will appoint a solicitor and pass the cost to you.
5. Seller liability: As a seller, if you fail to disclose information correctly or make errors in the legal documentation, you expose yourself to legal action from the buyer.

When Should You Hire a Conveyancer Instead?

DIY conveyancing becomes particularly complex — and is strongly inadvisable — in the following situations:

• Buying or selling an unregistered property
• Buying or selling at auction or via sealed bid
• Buying or selling anything other than a standard freehold property (leasehold, shared ownership, shared equity)
• Buying or selling only part of a property
• Transactions involving a property that is not a standard house or flat (e.g. land, commercial property)
• Transactions involving divorce, separation, or disputed ownership

In all these scenarios, the legal complexity is beyond what most individuals without legal training can safely manage alone.

The Verdict: Is DIY Conveyancing Worth It?

For a small number of cash-only transactions on straightforward freehold properties, DIY conveyancing is theoretically possible. For everyone else — particularly anyone with a mortgage — the risks far outweigh the savings. A good conveyancer, found through Moving Merchant, typically costs less than people expect and saves far more in avoided mistakes.

See our guide to average conveyancing fees to understand what you'd actually be saving, and use Moving Merchant to get a competitive quote that fits your budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DIY conveyancing legal?

Yes, it is legal in England and Wales, provided no mortgage lender is involved. However, it is not recommended without significant legal knowledge and experience.

Can I do DIY conveyancing if I have a mortgage?

Not effectively. Your mortgage lender will require a solicitor from their approved panel to act on their behalf, and you'll be responsible for those fees. You'd end up paying for a solicitor anyway, without the benefits of having them act for you.

How do I find a conveyancer if I change my mind?

Compare quotes from SRA and CLC regulated firms. See our guide on what is a conveyancer for tips on how to choose the right one, and what questions to ask before instructing.