How long does conveyancing take? A complete timeline

• The typical conveyancing process takes 12-16 weeks from instruction to completion
• Pre-exchange is the longest stage (4-12 weeks) and involves searches, surveys and negotiations
• Delays can occur due to property chains, search results, or slow response times from involved parties
• Being chain-free doesn't guarantee faster completion but reduces risks and complications
• Regular communication with your conveyancer and quick responses help avoid unnecessary delays

Conveyancing typically takes 12 – 16 weeks from instruction to completion, but timelines vary based on your specific situation. Property chains, survey results, responsiveness of everyone involved will impact your timeline. This guide explains each stage of the conveyancing process, common delays, and how to keep your property journey on track.

Buying a home is an exciting journey, but it’s important to understand the timeline involved. While every transaction is unique, the conveyancing process has several key stages, each with its own typical duration. Here’s a breakdown of how long each step in the conveyancing process will take:

Total time: 12 - 16 weeks on average

1. Instruction: 1 day – to 2 weeks
2. Pre-exchange: 4 – 12 weeks
3. Exchange of contracts: 1 day
4. Pre-completion: 1 – 4 weeks
5. Completion: 1 day
6. Post-completion

Before the conveyancing process begins, there are several important steps to complete:

1. Making or accepting an offer

Conveyancing begins only after an offer has been accepted. Whether you’re buying or selling, this is when the legal transfer process can start.

2. Choosing your conveyancer

When it comes to choosing a conveyancer, you’ll want to select one that you trust. Here’s what to look out for:

• Quality of communication and frequency of updates.
• Technology use for document sharing, ID checks and case tracking.
• Transparent pricing with clear fees.
• Client reviews and service quality.
• Caseload management and who handles your case (dedicated lawyers or paralegals).

Learn more: How to choose a conveyancer

1. Instructing your conveyancer (1 day – 2 weeks)

Once your offer is accepted, you can formally instruct your chosen conveyancer. This typically won’t take long, but it’s important that you’re responsive to their request so they can get started on the legal work as soon as possible.

Your conveyancer will typically request the following from you:

• Proof of personal details and property information.
• Confirm the sale/purchase price and terms.
• Complete ID checks.
• Confirmation of mortgage details (if applicable).

Once this is completed, your conveyancer will be able to start the legal work of your sale, purchase, or both.

2. Pre-exchange (4 – 12 weeks)

The pre-exchange phase is typically the longest part of the conveyancing process. A lot happens here before contracts are exchanged.

The complexity of the sale, the responsiveness of everyone involved, and potential delays impact how long conveyancing takes.

Both the buyer’s and seller’s conveyancers communicate throughout the pre-exchange to draft contracts, review searches and address any queries.

Here’s what happens during pre-exchange:

1. Property searches 

The buyer’s conveyancer conducts searches to gather key details about the property. This includes checks with the local authority, as well as environmental and drainage searches.

2. Surveys and valuations

The buyer may choose to arrange a survey to assess the property’s condition. If mortgaging, the lender often requires a valuation. Any issues uncovered can extend timelines if problems arise that need negotiating or fixing.

What type of survey do I need?

3. Negotiations 

Both parties may need to negotiate any concerns from searches, surveys, or other aspects of the transaction.

4. Legal paperwork 

Both conveyancers prepare and finalise essential documents like the contract of sale and supporting paperwork.

5. Mortgage approval

If the buyer is obtaining a mortgage, they must secure a formal offer. The conveyancer will then clarify the title before completion.

6. Exchange and completion date

Suitable exchange and completion dates must be agreed upon by both the buyer and seller, as well as factoring in the impact of the property chain.

7. Resolving issues

Conveyancers work to resolve any outstanding issues (from searches, queries etc.) so everything is settled before exchanging contracts.

8. Deposit clear

Before exchange, the buyer’s conveyancer ensures the deposit is ready, to either send on exchange or be held to order for completion.

3. Exchange of contracts (1 day)

 Exchange of contract is a big day, when your property transaction becomes legally binding.

On the date agreed during pre-exchange, both conveyancers simultaneously exchange signed contracts, formally committing both parties to complete the sale.

Here’s what happens when the day rolls around:

• The buyer’s conveyancer sends the signed contract to the seller's conveyancer.
• The seller's conveyancer sends their signed contract to the buyer’s conveyancer.
• Both parties are now legally obligated to proceed with the transaction.
• The buyer pays a deposit (typically 5-10% of the purchase price).
• Exchange and completion dates are confirmed in writing.

Once the contracts are exchanged, neither party can withdraw without complications:

• Buyers: Risk losing their deposit if they pull out.
• Sellers: May need to return the deposit.
• Both parties: May be liable for additional fees for breaching contract.

Learn more about: Exchange of contracts

4. Pre-completion (7 – 28 days)

Pre-completion is the period between exchange of contracts and completion, typically lasting 7-28 days. There’s no legal minimum or maximum here – it’s whatever all parties agree.

Learn more: Can I exchange and complete on the same day?

Now that you’re legally committed to the transaction, focus shifts to practical moving preparations. As a buyer, book your removals team for moving day and start packing early – don’t leave it until the last minute. As a seller, you may need to do the same, but also ensure the property is left in the agreed contractual condition.

Aim to pack non-essentials first, working up to daily essentials as you near completion. This phase marks the end of uncertainty - you can fully focus on the exciting parts of moving home!

Remember to stay in close contact with your conveyancer and respond quickly to any questions and be flexible if you need to be.

5. Completion (1 day)

Completion day is finally here – moving day for both the buyer and the seller. This long-awaited milestone involves:

• The seller vacating the home by an agreed time (typically around midday).
• The buyer’s conveyancer transfers the purchase funds to the seller’s conveyancer.
• Once the funds are cleared, the keys can be released from the estate agent to the buyer.

This is the day when the property ownership officially transfers and the buyer can move into their new home. The seller finishes moving out and goes on to whatever they have planned next.

We know it’s an action-packed day. To help you prepare, check out our full guide to everything that happens on completion day.

6. Post-completion

Although you’ve moved in, there is still a bit of work that your conveyancer needs to do to tie up a couple of loose ends.

For buyers:

• Your conveyancer pays any owed stamp duty on your behalf
• They also update the Land Registry record to show the property’s new owner. This can take some time to finalise after your move-in but has no impact on you moving in and living in your new home.

For sellers:

• You simply pay any remaining fees owed, such as to your conveyancer, estate agent, or other parties involved in the sale. These usually come out of the sale proceeds.

And that’s it – you’ve completed the purchase or sale of your property. Congratulations!

We know buying or selling a property is an exciting time. You likely want to get everything finalised as quickly as possible. Here are some tips to help you avoid delays in the conveyancing process:

Start strongly: Have your conveyancer lined up and ready to start their work as soon as they can. It’s up to you to make sure this happens. Ensure you know which conveyancer you’re going with before accepting/having an offer accepted.

Close contact: Stay in close contact with your conveyancer throughout the process. The more available you are to promptly answer their questions and provide any information they need, the faster they can process your transaction.

Chain reactions: Be mindful of your chain (if you’re in one). If someone above you in the chain unexpectedly backs out, it can create significant delays that stall everything. While you can’t control this, do consider the chain length and stability when first inquiring about a sale or purchase.

Choose wisely: Take time to research and choose experienced professionals that you trust. Things tend to move faster when you have a knowledgeable conveyancer, surveyor, estate agent, and other third parties on your team.

Act fast: If you encounter an issue that needs resolving, act fast to keep the transaction on track. Maybe problems arise from the survey, and you need to renegotiate, or perhaps your mortgage offer expired, and you need to reapply. Whatever the issue, act fast to avoid delays.

Keep it flexible: Try to remain as flexible as possible throughout the process. With so many moving parts, being less rigid where you can make everything go much smoother. This is especially important if you’re buying or selling during an exceptionally busy time of year.

Purchasing a new build property involves a slightly more complex conveyancing process compared to buying an existing home. It takes more work but doesn’t necessarily mean it will take longer overall.

Here’s what you need to know.

Developers often want a quick turnaround time to access funds faster and progress construction. So, they may require faster timelines.

You may buy mid-construction or before building even starts, so changes or delays can impact the conveyancing process.

New build conveyancing is more complex because your conveyancer must review permissions and deeds for the entire estate to determine what applies to your property. Whereas with existing properties, they only need to review documents for the individual building.

If you want to learn more and get a full step-by-step process check out our guide to new build conveyancing here.

What causes delays in conveyancing?

The conveyancing timeline will differ for everyone because each property transaction is unique. Things that impact your timeline include:

• Property type: Leasehold properties tend to take longer than freehold properties.
• Property chains: If you are part of a chain of linked buyers and sellers, this can introduce delays as each transaction relies on one another.
• Results of searches: If any conveyancing searches uncover issues like boundary disputes or planning limitations, resolving these may take time.
• Response times: Delays from the buyer, seller, conveyancers, estate agents, or any other parties in providing promptly requested information can cause setbacks.
• Construction delays: For new build purchases, delays in the building schedule will impact when the conveyancing can be completed.

When does conveyancing start?

The conveyancing timeline officially starts once an offer on a property has been accepted by the seller and the conveyancers are instructed by both parties.

At this point, the buyer’s conveyancer will order initial property searches and begin gathering documentation from the seller’s conveyancer to initiate their due diligence checks. The sooner all parties engage conveyancing professionals after an offer has been accepted, the quicker the process can begin.

How can I speed up my conveyancing?

Whilst you can’t control some aspects, there certainly are things you can do to move things forward:

Respond quickly: Answer your conveyancer's requests for information and documents immediately. Delays often occur when clients take days or weeks to provide requested paperwork.

Choose an experienced conveyancer: Research and compare several conveyancers before instructing. Experienced professionals handle issues more efficiently and communicate proactively with all parties.

Stay organised: Keep all property documents, contracts, and correspondence in one place. Having information readily available prevents delays when questions arise.

Maintain realistic expectations: Set achievable timelines and remain flexible. Rushing the legal process often creates more problems than it solves.

Is conveyancing faster for cash buyers?

Cash buyers often enjoy a slightly faster conveyancing process compared to those requiring a mortgage. Without the need for mortgage approvals and lender valuations, several steps in the timeline can be bypassed.

However, it’s important to note that many aspects of conveyancing, such as property searches and legal paperwork, still need to be completed regardless of payment method. While cash purchases can potentially shave a few weeks off the process, they’re not immune to other factors that might cause delays, like issues uncovered in surveys or complications in the property chain.

Ultimately, while cash buyers may have a smoother journey, they should still expect the conveyancing process to take several weeks to complete.

Can I exchange and complete on the same day?

Simultaneous exchange and completion can significantly compress how long conveyancing takes, requiring all parties to be extremely prepared and coordinated. This approach increases pressure on conveyancers, lenders, and clients to have all documentation, funds, and arrangements in place on a single day.

While it can potentially speed up the process, it also introduces higher risks of last-minute issues or delays.

It is also only possible in certain circumstances. Read our completion day guide for more.