How long does conveyancing take in 2026?

Freehold purchases average 12 to 16 weeks from the point your solicitor is instructed to the day you complete. Leasehold adds 4 to 6 weeks because your solicitor must review the lease, obtain a management pack from the freeholder or managing agent (which takes 2 to 4 weeks alone), and raise additional enquiries about service charges, ground rent, and planned works.

New build completions are harder to predict: if the property is already built, expect 8 to 12 weeks from reservation; if it is still under construction, completion depends on the build programme and you exchange with a long-stop date rather than a fixed completion date.

Cash purchases are faster, typically 6 to 10 weeks, because there is no mortgage application, valuation, or lender's solicitor in the chain.

1. Slow local authority searches. These take 2 to 6 weeks depending on the council, and your solicitor cannot proceed without them. Some councils offer expedited searches for a premium. There is nothing you can do to speed them up once ordered, which is why paying for them immediately matters.

2. Incomplete source-of-funds evidence. Anti-money laundering checks require your solicitor to verify where every penny of your deposit comes from. If you have savings from multiple accounts, gifted funds, inheritance, or overseas income, gathering the evidence takes time. Prepare this before your solicitor asks.

3. Leasehold management packs. The freeholder or managing agent charges £200 to £500 and takes 2 to 4 weeks. Sellers should order this the day they accept an offer.

4. Chains. Every additional link in the chain adds risk and time. If any transaction in the chain stalls, everyone waits. Chain-free buyers complete faster because they remove this dependency.

5. Slow replies to enquiries. Your solicitor raises enquiries (questions) about the property based on the searches, survey, and the seller's property information forms. If the seller's solicitor is slow to respond, or the seller takes weeks to answer questions about the property, everything stops.

Get your ID, proof of address, and source-of-funds evidence to your solicitor in the first week. Pay for searches the same day they are requested. If you are getting a mortgage, chase your broker for the formal offer as soon as the valuation is done. Book your survey within days of your offer being accepted, not weeks.

If you are selling, return the TA6 (property information form) within 5 working days. Have your building regulations certificates, planning permissions, and guarantees ready before your solicitor asks. Order the management pack immediately if leasehold.

Use House Chapter's conveyancing prep tool to track every document your solicitor will need and see how many potential delay days you have eliminated.

Week 1 to 2: Instruct solicitor, provide ID and source-of-funds evidence, pay search fees, book survey.

Week 2 to 4: Searches ordered, survey conducted, mortgage application progressing.

Week 4 to 8: Search results return, survey report received, solicitor raises enquiries with seller's solicitor, mortgage offer issued.

Week 8 to 12: Enquiries answered, mortgage conditions satisfied, buildings insurance arranged, deposit funds confirmed.

Week 12 to 14: Report on title from solicitor, sign contract, agree completion date, exchange contracts.

Week 14 to 16: Between exchange and completion (usually 1 to 2 weeks), transfer funds, collect keys on completion day.