How long does conveyancing take — and when should you worry?
Conveyancing · 6 min read · by Jordan ·
The honest answer: a straightforward purchase in England, Wales or Northern Ireland typically takes 12–16 weeks from offer accepted to completion, and 6–10 weeks in Scotland from acceptance to date of entry. But almost nobody's purchase is entirely straightforward, and the range is wide for normal, boring reasons.
This is general guidance to help you know what's normal — it isn't legal or financial advice.
Where the time actually goes
Searches are the classic wait: some councils turn around a local authority search in a week, others take six. Pre-contract enquiries are the other big one — your solicitor asks questions, the seller's solicitor asks the seller, the seller digs out paperwork from 2009. Each round trip can take a week.
Leasehold purchases add the management pack: freeholders and managing agents routinely take three to six weeks to produce it, and they charge for the privilege.
When should you chase?
A useful rule: silence inside a stage's typical window is normal; silence past it deserves a polite, specific question. "Any update?" gets vague answers — "which enquiries are outstanding and who are we waiting on?" gets specific ones.
Home Buying Steps shows the typical window for every stage of your country's process and gives you the exact chase email to send when a stage overruns — free, and written to keep your solicitor onside.
FAQ
How long does conveyancing take on average in the UK? Around 12–16 weeks from offer accepted to completion in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and roughly 6–10 weeks in Scotland from acceptance to date of entry.
Why is conveyancing taking so long? Usually local-authority searches, the back-and-forth of pre-contract enquiries, a slow leasehold management pack, or a chain. Most of the waiting is on third parties, not your solicitor.
When is it reasonable to chase my solicitor? Once a stage has run past its typical window. Ask a specific question — which enquiries are outstanding, and who are we waiting on — rather than "any update?".
Does leasehold make conveyancing slower? Usually yes. The freeholder or managing agent has to produce a management pack, which commonly takes three to six weeks.
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Home Buying Steps provides general guidance only, specific to the country you select — not legal, financial, mortgage or tax advice. Always consult your own solicitor or broker. Read the full disclaimer.