Should I use the solicitor my estate agent recommends?

A conveyancer is the licensed professional, either a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer, who handles the legal work of transferring a property from one owner to another. A referral fee is a payment an estate agent receives for directing you to a particular conveyancer, mortgage broker, or other service.

Do I have to use my agent's recommended solicitor?

No. You are free to choose any conveyancer you wish, and an estate agent cannot make using their recommended firm a condition of accepting your offer or of the sale going ahead. The recommendation is a suggestion, and the appointment is yours to make.

Why do agents recommend a particular firm?

• A genuine working relationship, where the agent and the firm communicate smoothly and deals tend to move along.
• A panel of firms the agent has used before and trusts to do a competent job.
• A referral fee paid to the agent for each client sent to that firm, which is common and legal as long as it is disclosed.

None of these makes the recommended firm a bad choice. It simply means the recommendation may not be neutral, so it is worth checking before you commit.

What does the law say about referral fees?

Under National Trading Standards guidance, an estate agent must disclose a referral arrangement to you in plain terms, including the amount of any transaction-specific fee or the value of an ongoing retainer. Failing to disclose a referral fee can be a criminal matter under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, and the practice is also enforced under the Estate Agents Act 1979. In short, you have a legal right to be told what your agent is paid to point you somewhere.

How do I decide? A step-by-step check

1. 1. Ask the agent directly about the fee

   Ask whether they receive a referral fee for the recommendation and how much it is. They are required to tell you, and a straight answer is a good sign.

2. 2. Get at least two independent quotes

   Request full quotes from two or three conveyancers, comparing the total cost including disbursements, not just the headline legal fee.

3. 3. Check service and lender panel

   Look at the firm's reviews and turnaround times, and if you are buying, check they are on your mortgage lender's approved panel to avoid delays.

4. 4. Weigh convenience against independence

   A recommended firm may talk to the agent easily, but you want a conveyancer who acts for you, not for the sale. Decide which matters more in your case.

5. 5. Choose on the merits and tell the agent

   Make your decision on cost, service, and independence, then let the agent know. This appointment is firmly in your hands.

Keeping the big choices in your own hands is the whole idea. ValuQ gives UK homeowners free, side-by-side property valuations from competing local estate agents, so from the very first step you compare on the merits and decide who to work with, rather than being handed a default.

A recommendation is not an instruction. The conveyancer works for you, so the choice is yours to make.