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Buying & selling
How long does conveyancing really take in the UK?
QuoteMyMove 3 February 2026 7 min read
8–12 weeks if you're lucky. Here's an honest week-by-week conveyancing timeline and the seven things most likely to derail it.
Realistic week-by-week
- Week 1: Offer accepted, conveyancer instructed, ID checks done
- Week 2: Draft contract received from seller's solicitor
- Weeks 3-5: Local-authority and environmental searches return
- Week 6: Pre-contract enquiries answered
- Week 7: Mortgage offer issued formally
- Weeks 8-9: Final enquiries cleared, contracts signed
- Week 10: Exchange — legally binding
- Weeks 11-12: Completion — keys in hand
What slows things down
- Long chains (4+ properties)
- Leasehold management packs (often 2-6 weeks)
- Missing planning history
- Slow Help-to-Buy administration
- Bridging finance disagreements
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