How long does conveyancing take?
If you’re buying or selling a property, you’ll be keen to see the conveyancing process handled quickly and efficiently. However, buying a house isn’t always as simple as you want it to be.
Conveyancing includes a wide range of tasks for a conveyancer to complete the property transaction – but, how long does it take?
Once you’ve hired your conveyancing solicitor, the process can take several weeks – possibly even months – so continue reading to find out the full breakdown.
What is involved in the conveyancing process?
Conveyancing is the legal process that’s involved in transferring the ownership of a property or piece of land. A buyer and seller will use their own conveyancing solicitor – who will liaise with one another – to conduct the entire behind-the-scenes process while you get on with life.
What does the conveyancer manage during the conveyancing process?
- Handling the exchange of contracts
- Reviewing mortgage offer from the lender
- Handling local searches
- Handling property searches and surveys
- Dealing with the Land Registry
- Handling the final transfer of money
- Arranging Stamp Duty Land Tax
- Providing legal guidance
How long does conveyancing take with no chain?
Without a chain in place, the conveyancing process can take as little as four weeks (if everything goes well). However, the average time taken to complete conveyancing is usually around 12 weeks.
If you’re a cash buyer purchasing a house with no chain, this can be even quicker. This is because there is no potential delay caused by a mortgage application. The money is available from day one of the process so this speeds things up dramatically.
How quickly can conveyancing be done?
As mentioned above, if everything falls into place, the conveyancing process can be completed in less than 12 weeks. This entirely depends on everything – searches, surveys, contracts – all being done as quickly as possible without issue.
If both parties respond to their solicitors promptly, it gives the conveyancer the best possible chance to complete the process quickly.
Of course, if there’s a chain involved, this can extend the amount of time taken to complete. If there is a single problem within the chain, it can delay everything – potentially pushing completion to 24 weeks.
How long do solicitor searches take?
Local searches should take around two weeks – so long as the reports come back on time. However, many local authorities miss their deadline and take up to 25 working days, potentially stretching the process out over a month.
How long does conveyancing take after searches?
Given the initial conveyancing period, with searches and surveys, the contract being drawn up, and the overall process taking up to 12 weeks, it leaves around 10 weeks.
Again, this is based on the fact that everything goes through smoothly without delays. There could be a problem with the survey, or the other party may take too long to sign the paperwork. If none of this happens, you could be looking at around 10 weeks after searches are completed.
How long does it take between exchanging contracts and completion?
Once the mortgage offer is in place, all pre-contract enquiries have been answered and the property survey and searches have been completed, it’s time to exchange contracts. The conveyancer should be able to complete this step in 1-2 weeks, though this will be much quicker if everybody responds as soon as possible.
Once the contracts have been signed, a completion date is set for the money to be transferred, allowing the buyer to collect the keys to their new property.
How to avoid delays in conveyancing
Trying to avoid delays in conveyancing often comes down to avoiding unnecessary delays.
The first thing to do is instruct a conveyancing solicitor as soon as possible.
When selling a property, the estate agent can help greatly with the progression of the sale. Often, they’ll be paid once the sale has gone through, so they play a large role in ensuring completion. Have a conversation with your estate agent about how quickly you’d like the process to be done.
We may have mentioned all the things in the process that could slow the conveyancing down that don’t involve you, but you are important in this too.
If you are sent a document to review and sign, do it as soon as you can. Any delay will slow the entire process down so if you do your part quickly, you’re helping the situation.
Contact expert conveyancing solicitors for your property transaction
If you require the services of an expert conveyancing solicitor for your house purchase or sale, we can help.
At GD Property Solicitors, we have vast experience in conducting the conveyancing process all across the UK. We’ve provided residential conveyancing and commercial conveyancing for hundreds of individuals over the years, ensuring an efficient and smooth process.
We offer a paperless service, offering you access to a 24/7 online portal to view documents, sign paperwork and make payments.
If you’d like to hire us as your conveyancing solicitors, contact us today by calling 0161 710 1786 or sending an email to info@gdlegal.co.uk.l.co.uk.