How long does conveyancing take when buying a house?

Question

We have just had an offer accepted on our first home with a mortgage. How long does the legal side of buying usually take, and what tends to slow it down?

Wyatt Ward · Accepted Answer

For a freehold purchase, the conveyancing process typically takes somewhere between eight and twelve weeks from the point your offer is accepted to completion, though it can be quicker or considerably slower depending on the circumstances. Leasehold properties usually take longer because your lawyer has to review the lease and obtain a management pack from the freeholder or managing agent. The most common causes of delay are long chains where several linked transactions all have to be ready at once, waiting for local authority searches, mortgage offers taking time to be issued, and questions raised between the lawyers that need answers from the seller. Getting your mortgage application and identity documents ready early, and responding quickly to your lawyer, genuinely helps keep things moving.

Levi Brooks · Answer

A realistic expectation is two to three months for a straightforward freehold with a cooperative chain, and longer for leasehold or a long chain. If speed matters to you, choose a lawyer who communicates promptly, get your deposit funds and proof of their source ready in advance, and chase your mortgage broker so the formal offer is not the bottleneck. Remember that nothing is legally guaranteed until contracts are exchanged; before that point either side can still withdraw. General information only.

How long does conveyancing take when buying a house?

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