Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring a property from seller to buyer — the part that happens quietly between your offer and getting the keys. It's where most delays hide, so understanding the steps helps you keep things moving. Here's how it works from start to finish.
The short answer
Your conveyancer (a licensed conveyancer or property solicitor) handles the legal legwork: checking the title, ordering searches, raising enquiries, handling contracts and money, and registering you as the new owner. Both buyer and seller instruct their own.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Instruction | You appoint a conveyancer; ID and initial paperwork are done |
| 2. Searches | Local authority, environmental and other searches are ordered |
| 3. Enquiries | Your conveyancer raises questions with the seller's side and reviews the contract, title and (for flats) the lease |
| 4. Exchange | Contracts are exchanged; the deal is legally binding and the deposit is paid |
| 5. Completion | The balance is transferred, ownership passes and you get the keys |
These get confused constantly. Exchange of contracts is when the deal becomes legally binding and your deposit is committed — neither side can pull out without penalty. Completion is usually a week or two later, when the balance is paid and you collect the keys. Everything before exchange is, in principle, still cancellable.
A straightforward purchase often takes around two to three months, but it varies widely. Common delays are long property chains, slow searches, mortgage-offer timing, and unresolved enquiries — especially on leasehold flats, where the lease, service charges and freeholder information add steps. Our guide to how long buying takes goes deeper.
Choose a responsive conveyancer, reply to their enquiries quickly, and line up your mortgage and survey early. Conveyancing is also where costs like search fees and Stamp Duty are handled — see the full cost of buying and our stamp duty guide.
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer, handled by a conveyancer or property solicitor for each side.
The main stages are instructing a conveyancer, carrying out searches, raising and answering enquiries, exchanging contracts, and completing — after which ownership is registered.
Exchange of contracts is when the sale becomes legally binding and the deposit is committed. Completion is when the remaining money is paid and the buyer gets the keys, usually a week or two later.
A straightforward purchase often takes around two to three months, but chains, slow searches, mortgage timing and leasehold enquiries can extend it.