you don't need a solicitor but if you want to own the house then conveyancy is required, you can do that yourself if you like but generally it's a lot safer to get a professional to do it. Deeds are largely irrelevant these days, you need to get it registered properly at the land registry.
you would be silly not to,you would be amazed at how many attempts there are to sell property thats not owned by the seller, ie rented.
I know of recent incident where the tenant assumed the owners identity and sold the house ! (apparently not for the first time), it came to light within a few days of exchanging contracts and that was only because the neighbours thought it was being used as a canabis factory and called the police.