Your conveyancer carries out the critical legal work that makes your home purchase or sale official.

The process is complicated and can take months – so it's critical you work with a conveyancer you trust.

You'll need to instruct a solicitor by the time you apply for your mortgage.

You can hire a solicitor, who may practice different kinds of law, or a conveyancing solicitor, who specialises in conveyancing. It's up to you.

Lenders can only work with conveyancers who are on their conveyancing panel, and this is true of us, too. Luckily, the list is long and conveyancers on our panel must meet strict criteria.

Read about our conveyancing panel for more information.

There are exceptions to the rule, but in conveyancing, you often get what you pay for. It's important to compare quotes and to not just use a solicitor because an estate agent or broker recommended one to you.

When comparing quotes, look for fully itemised quotations to be sure there are no hidden costs.

When selecting a conveyancer, take price into account – but resist just using the cheapest firm unless you're certain you'll receive good service.

Be sure that the conveyancer you choose is well regarded and experienced. Read reviews on Google or Trustpilot, and if they don't have any, ask why. This could mean the firm is new and possibly inexperienced.

Some conveyancers are totally online, others are more old school. Some communicate primarily by email, others like to chat over the phone.

When you're gathering quotes, ask about timelines, when you can expect to hear from them, and how many other transactions they might be handling. Be sure that the nature of their service aligns well with your needs.

If you're looking for a place to start, you could consider Gen H Legal.

Gen H Legal is our conveyancer. You do not have to use them to get a mortgage with us – it's entirely up to you.

Gen H Legal is a small team that handles fewer transactions to ensure they deliver the best possible service to clients. They're independent from us as a lender, and we're very proud of the service they provide.

Read their Google reviews for feedback from past clients.

Which conveyancer you decide to work with is completely up to you – Gen H Legal is only one option.