How long does conveyancing take? A complete timeline

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 conveyancer or paralegals).

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.

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.

 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!