Conveyancing Timeline: Week by Week

Knowing what should happen when makes the conveyancing process far less stressful. Instead of wondering why nothing seems to be happening, you'll know exactly where you are in the sequence.

Here's a realistic week-by-week breakdown. Your purchase may move faster or slower, but this gives you a benchmark for what's typical.

Weeks 1-2: Instruction and Setup

This phase is about getting everything started properly. Understanding the broader context of how long buying a house takes overall helps you manage expectations for the entire process, not just conveyancing.

What Happens

Your solicitor:

• Sends you a welcome pack and terms of engagement
• Requests ID verification (passport, proof of address)
• Asks about your source of funds (anti-money laundering compliance)
• Orders searches from local authority and other providers (per Law Society Conveyancing Protocol)
• Requests the contract pack from the seller's solicitor

The seller's solicitor:

• Prepares the contract pack
• Gathers title documents
• Sends property information forms to their client
• Compiles everything to send to your solicitor

You:

• Return ID documents promptly
• Complete source of funds declarations
• Provide mortgage details
• Book your survey (if getting one)

Your Action Items

• Respond to ID and source of funds requests immediately
• Keep your solicitor informed of your mortgage broker's details
• Decide on survey level and book it
• Stay accessible by email and phone

What to Expect

This is an active period with forms to complete and decisions to make. Your solicitor needs information from you quickly—delays here delay everything.

Weeks 2-4: Searches and Contract Review

Now comes the waiting—and the detailed work.

What Happens

Your solicitor:

• Waits for search results to return
• Reviews the contract pack from the seller's solicitor
• Examines title documents for any issues
• Drafts enquiries (questions about the property)
• Sends enquiries to the seller's solicitor

Searches in progress:

• Local authority search (most variable timing)
• Water and drainage search
• Environmental search
• Any optional searches (mining, etc.)

The survey:

• Survey appointment arranged and conducted
• Survey report received and reviewed
• Any concerns raised with your solicitor

Your Action Items

• Attend survey appointment if required
• Review survey report when received
• Respond to any questions from your solicitor
• The silence doesn't mean nothing is happening—work is progressing behind the scenes

What to Expect

This can feel slow. You're waiting for councils, for the seller to answer questions, for your lender to process things. Weekly check-ins with your solicitor are reasonable, but understand they can't speed up external parties.

Weeks 4-6: Responses and Review

Search results and enquiry responses start coming back. The real analysis happens.

What Happens

Your solicitor:

• Receives and reviews search results
• Receives enquiry responses from the seller's solicitor
• Raises additional enquiries if needed
• Checks mortgage offer against contract terms
• Identifies any issues requiring attention

Your mortgage:

• Mortgage offer issued (if not already)
• Lender conditions satisfied
• Mortgage details confirmed to solicitor

The seller's side:

• Responds to enquiries
• Provides additional documents if requested
• Addresses any issues raised

Your Action Items

• Satisfy any mortgage conditions promptly
• Review anything your solicitor sends you
• Make decisions on any issues raised
• Keep your mortgage offer valid (don't change jobs or take new credit)

What to Expect

You may receive a flurry of documents and questions. Read everything your solicitor sends. Ask questions if you don't understand something. This is the investigative phase where problems, if any, will emerge.

Weeks 6-8: Pre-Exchange Preparation

Everything converges towards exchange.

What Happens

Your solicitor:

• Confirms all enquiries are satisfactorily answered
• Prepares your report on title (summary of findings)
• Sends contract for you to sign
• Arranges transfer of deposit funds
• Coordinates with other parties on exchange timing

You:

• Receive and read report on title
• Sign the contract
• Transfer deposit to your solicitor
• Arrange buildings insurance (required from exchange)

The chain:

• All parties work towards simultaneous readiness
• Completion date negotiations
• Final checks and preparations

Your Action Items

• Read your report on title carefully
• Sign and return the contract promptly
• Transfer deposit funds when requested
• Arrange buildings insurance effective from exchange date
• Confirm the completion date works for you

What to Expect

This is the "hurry up and wait" phase. Suddenly everything needs to happen quickly. Your solicitor coordinates with other parties. Chain synchronisation can cause delays even when you're ready.

Weeks 8-10: Exchange of Contracts

The moment of commitment.

What Happens

Exchange day:

• Your solicitor confirms all parties are ready
• Contracts exchanged by phone between solicitors
• Deposit money held by seller's solicitor
• Completion date becomes legally binding
• Neither party can back out without serious consequences

Immediately after:

• Your solicitor confirms exchange in writing
• Estate agent notified
• Countdown to completion begins

Your Action Items

• Be available by phone on exchange day
• Confirm you're happy to proceed when asked
• Don't panic—exchange can take all day to coordinate a chain

What to Expect

Exchange can happen quickly or take all day depending on chain complexity. You may be asked to sign something or confirm agreement by phone. Once done, you'll feel relief from commitment finally being locked in.

Weeks 10-12: Completion

The finish line.

What Happens

Before completion:

• Your solicitor prepares completion statement
• Mortgage funds requested from lender
• You transfer any balance to solicitor
• Final checks completed

Completion day:

• Your solicitor sends purchase funds to seller's solicitor
• Seller's solicitor confirms receipt
• Keys released through estate agent
• You can move in

After completion:

• Stamp duty paid (by solicitor on your behalf)
• Ownership registered with Land Registry
• Title documents sent to your lender (if mortgaged)
• You receive completion of registration

Your Action Items

• Transfer final balance when requested
• Arrange removals and access
• Notify utility companies
• Collect keys from estate agent

What to Expect

Completion day is typically busy in the morning for solicitors and quiet by afternoon. Keys are usually available between 1pm and 4pm. Plan accordingly.

What Causes Variation

Every purchase is different. Here's what extends timelines:

Slow Councils

Local authority search times vary from 3 days to 6+ weeks. This single factor can add weeks to your purchase.

Long Chains

Each link adds potential delay. A 5-person chain will almost certainly take longer than buying from a probate sale with no upward chain.

Complex Enquiries

Properties with complicated histories—multiple extensions, unclear boundaries, historic issues—generate more enquiries and longer resolution times.

Mortgage Delays

Slow lenders, complex income verification, or property issues flagged in valuation all add time.

Unresponsive Parties

If sellers take weeks to answer enquiries, or other solicitors are slow, the whole process drags.

Party Availability

Holidays, illness, or work commitments can pause progress at any point.

Tracking Your Progress

Understanding where you are helps manage expectations.

Weekly Check-Ins

A weekly email to your solicitor asking "What are we waiting for and what happens next?" keeps you informed without being annoying.

Key Milestones

Track these milestones to gauge progress:

• ID verification complete
• Searches ordered
• Contract pack received
• Enquiries sent
• Searches returned
• Enquiries answered
• Mortgage offer received
• Report on title received
• Ready to exchange
• Exchanged
• Completion date confirmed

When to Chase

If a stage takes significantly longer than typical:

• Searches: Chase after 4 weeks if council is usually faster
• Enquiry responses: Chase after 2 weeks of silence
• Mortgage offer: Chase after 3 weeks

Your solicitor should be chasing already, but asking shows you're engaged.

Can conveyancing be done faster than 8 weeks?

Yes, particularly for straightforward purchases with no chain. Cash buyers can sometimes complete in 4-6 weeks. But fast timelines require responsive parties, quick councils, and no complications. Don't promise yourself (or your landlord) a fast completion without good reason to expect one.

What's the longest conveyancing can take?

There's no upper limit. Complex purchases with legal issues, long chains, or difficult parties can take 6+ months. If you're significantly past normal timescales, ask your solicitor what's causing the delay and whether it's likely to resolve.

How long between exchange and completion?

Typically 1-2 weeks, but it can be longer by agreement. Same-day exchange and completion is possible but unusual and riskier. The gap allows time to finalise mortgage funds, arrange removals, and prepare for moving day.

Should I book removals before exchange?

Ideally, book provisionally and confirm after exchange. Removal companies are busy and you want your preferred date. But understand you're taking a small risk if exchange doesn't happen as planned. Most people book removals a few weeks ahead and accept this risk.

Tracking Progress Matters

8-12 weeks from offer to completion is typical, but knowing the sequence matters more than the speed. Track milestones rather than counting days, and you'll understand exactly where your purchase stands at any moment. Progress often feels hidden when it's actually consistent.