How long does it take to buy a house in the UK?

The timeline of a conveyancing transaction is significantly affected by a wide range of factors, from the type of property you are buying to the number of people in your chain. While some transactions can exchange in just 28 days, others can take upwards of six months.

The buying process is commonly criticised for the time it takes to reach exchange of contracts. Although the Government frequently reviews ways to streamline the system, current transactions generally follow the timeframes outlined below.

In this article, we break down the different types of property transactions, the average time it takes to get to exchange, what could cause the process to delay, and whether it is worth paying an expedition fee to your solicitor.

Need further help? For more information on the timeframes during the conveyancing process, including guides on how long after searches to exchange contracts and how long between exchange and completion, visit our comprehensive conveyancing guides for buyers and sellers.

How long does buying a house take on average?

The average time to move house in the UK with a chain ranges from 11 to 21 weeks. If you are buying a house with no chain, the moving process is 6 to 8 weeks on average.

Your solicitor will often give you standard timeframes based on the property type:

• 28 to 36 days for auction or new builds.
• 8 to 10 weeks for freeholds.
• 12 to 14 weeks for leaseholds.

The challenge is that the conveyancing process relies on more than just your solicitor completing their side of the legal work, and there are many factors that can affect the time it takes to get from having your offer accepted to the exchange of contracts.

What do the regulators say the timeframe is?

Neither the Law Society nor the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) publishes a centralised, live database tracking the exact average time it takes to buy or sell a property. However, both organisations shape how conveyancing timelines are reported across the UK:

• Law Society Estimates: While the Law Society does not maintain a live public tracker, industry professionals frequently rely on its estimates, which place the average time from an accepted offer to completion at 12-16 weeks.
• SRA Transparency Rules: The SRA does not track national averages, but under its Transparency Rules, it requires all regulated law firms to publish expected conveyancing timescales on their own websites. Firms can meet this regulatory requirement by providing an average time or a typical timeframe range. Because of this rule, individual law firms publicly display their average timelines, which generally range from 8 to 16 weeks, depending on property type and chain length.

How long does each stage of a home move take?

It is better to break down the conveyancing process into stages so you can see exactly where the bulk of the time is spent. It helps to picture a main timeline running alongside several concurrent tasks, as different parts of the process complete at different times.

The following are standard estimated timeframes for a typical transaction. In the next section, we explain the unique factors and property types—such as new builds or Shared Ownership—that can significantly alter these standard times.

Speed Control: Completely within your control.

As soon as your offer is accepted, the estate agent is going to need the name of your solicitor. Do not drag your heels on this part, as it will slow the whole chain down over something that is completely within your control. As a top tip, both the buyer and the seller should instruct their solicitor before making or accepting an offer.

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Speed Control: Dependent on your estate agent.

The estate agent issues the sales memorandum as soon as they have the solicitor details from both the buyer and the seller. This document is then emailed to the buyer, the seller, and their respective solicitors.

This step can be delayed if either party provides incorrect solicitor details, or if the estate agent is slow to type up the memorandum, which often happens during holiday periods or when their administrative team is understaffed.

Speed Control: Completely within your control and your lender's timeframes.

You should submit your formal mortgage application as soon as possible. Because most buyers already have a decision in principle before making an offer, they only need to complete the formal application for the specific property once their offer is accepted.

If you are wondering exactly how long does it take for mortgage approval, you can typically expect your lender to issue the formal offer within 1 to 4 weeks, provided your financial documents are in order and the bank's valuation goes smoothly. Read our complete guide: The mortgage process explained.

Speed Control: Dependent on your local council's turnaround time.

A mandatory stage for anyone with a mortgage. You order your conveyancing searches when the seller issues their draft contracts. The majority of searches are returned within 1 to 2 weeks; however, the local authority search can be delayed by up to 8 weeks, depending on the council.

Find out your council's turnaround time here: Local Authority Turnaround Times.

Speed Control: Dependent on surveyor availability and your promptness to book.

A non-mandatory stage, but a critical one most buyers complete. The RICS Home Survey is organised around the same time that contracts are received from the seller's solicitor. In busy areas such as London and the South East, you'll find your surveyor has availability within the week; however, for less busy locations such as in the South West, you'll find a lead time of up to 3 weeks.

The survey takes place, and the report is normally issued within 5 working days. This means the ordering survey process starts and finishes within 2 to 3 weeks.

Speed Control: Shared between the seller and the managing agent.

This bundle of documents is one of the primary reasons leasehold transactions take longer than freehold transactions. The Leasehold Management Pack (which includes the standard LPE1 form) is compiled by the freeholder or their managing agent, issued to the seller's solicitor, and then forwarded to the buyer's side.

Delays at this stage are usually caused by two factors:

• The seller: The seller often delays ordering the pack either because their solicitor is slow to request the funds, or because the pack is expensive and the seller is waiting until payday to cover the upfront cost. This initial hesitation can easily add weeks to the timeline before the managing agent even begins compiling the data.
• The management company: When compiling the required documents, the freeholder may not have everything to hand, or critical safety reports (such as the Fire Risk Assessment or EWS1 form) might be out of date. Larger managing agents tend to be more efficient, sending packs within 1 to 2 weeks and offering expedited service for an additional fee.

Speed Control: Dependent on your solicitor, third parties and the seller's solicitor.

The buyer's solicitor raises legal enquiries upon receiving the draft contract pack from the seller's solicitor. This is often the longest part of the core conveyancing process. Whilst there might be delays in receiving the property searches or the leasehold management pack, resolving legal enquiries is the primary cause of delays, and the timeline depends entirely on the complexity of the legal issues raised.

You can read about the most common legal issues and how to resolve them here: Common Examples of Property Legal Enquiries.

Speed Control: Shared between you and your solicitor.

To prepare for the most important stage, your solicitor drafts a Report on Title and sends you all of your documents for signing. The report takes up to 5 working days to prepare, and the remaining time is for you to read all the documents, organise the contracts and TR1 for signing and witnessing, and send the documents back by post. Only then can the exchange of contracts take place.

We strongly advise you to use Special Delivery and send it to be delivered on a working day, not over the weekend. Sending signed documents by standard delivery exposes you to lost documents and delays.

Speed Control: Dependent on your mortgage lender.

Once you have exchanged contracts, your solicitor will request mortgage funds in time for completion. There is normally a lead time of 3 to 5 working days for the mortgage advance to be sent to your solicitor.

Speed Control: Dependent on your solicitor and the banking system.

Your solicitor sends the completion monies to the seller's solicitor via the banking system, who will then formally release the keys so you can move in. Following this, your solicitor will pay the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), if applicable, and register your new ownership of the property at HM Land Registry.

What types of transactions affect the conveyancing process timeline?

There are a variety of transactions where the standard conveyancing process differs, whether there are extra legal stages to complete or strict enforced deadlines to meet.

New Build

Buying a new build presents a unique timeline: it involves strict initial deadlines to speed up the beginning of the process, but potentially long waits for the property to actually be built. The developer sets a strict deadline for the exchange of contracts, and buyers often feel immense pressure to meet it because they have paid a non-refundable reservation fee. This exchange deadline can be as short as 28 days or as long as 56 days.

If the property is fully built when you exchange contracts, you will usually be able to complete just a week later. However, if the property is still under construction, you will exchange contracts "on notice". This means you enter a waiting game where completion will only take place once the property is structurally finished and legally signed off, which can take anywhere from 1 to 12 months.

Shared Ownership Purchase

A shared ownership property purchase is more complex and time-consuming for your solicitor due to the unique legal structure of the transaction. All Shared Ownership purchases are leasehold, though not all are new builds; many are resales.

New Build Shared Ownership

As with standard new builds, a new build Shared Ownership property will be subject to a strict exchange deadline (typically 28 days) agreed upon at the outset with the housing association or developer.

Re-Sale Shared Ownership

A resale Shared Ownership transaction often takes longer than a new build because the current owners are typically buying another property, creating a property chain. Furthermore, the overall process is dictated by an up-to-date RICS valuation, which expires after just 3 months. This expiration date can make the process highly stressful; the buyer's solicitor must navigate the complex legalities against a ticking clock, as the seller will naturally want to avoid paying out of pocket to have their valuation legally extended.

Right To Buy Purchase

A Right to Buy purchase can be either a freehold or a leasehold. While the average time to reach exchange of contracts is typically 8 to 12 weeks, these transactions are notorious for unexpected delays. It is also worth noting that the government is planning some changes to the Right to Buy scheme that may impact future applications.

From a conveyancing perspective, Right to Buy purchases frequently take longer due to a few common bottlenecks:

• Overstretched local authorities: Council legal departments are often under-resourced, leading to noticeably slow turnaround times for issuing the initial draft contracts and responding to your solicitor's legal enquiries.
• Leasehold complexities: If you are buying a council flat or maisonette, the purchase will be leasehold. The council must compile a bespoke management pack detailing future major works (Section 20 notices) and service charges, which frequently stalls the timeline.
• Expiring valuations: Your mortgage valuation and the council's formal Right to Buy offer are time-sensitive (often expiring after 3 months). If the local authority drags its feet on the legal paperwork, these valuations can expire, forcing your solicitor to request formal extensions before you can complete the purchase.

Auction Purchase

Buying a property at a traditional auction completely flips the standard conveyancing timeline on its head. When the gavel falls, you instantly exchange contracts, hand over a 10% deposit, and become legally bound to buy the property. You are then typically left with a strict 28-day deadline to complete the transaction.

From a conveyancing perspective, an auction purchase is high-pressure due to the following factors:

• Pre-auction due diligence: Because exchange happens on the day of the auction, your solicitor must review the auction legal pack, check property searches, and raise critical enquiries before you even place a bid. Once you win, you accept the property and its title defects "warts and all."
• Zero negotiating power post-auction: Because you are already contractually bound to purchase the property, the seller's solicitor is under no obligation to answer any further legal enquiries or resolve issues discovered after the auction.
• Financing pressure: Securing a standard residential mortgage within a 28-day window is exceptionally risky and often impossible. Most auction buyers must rely on cash or short-term bridging finance to ensure they do not miss the completion deadline, which would result in the loss of their 10% deposit and incur breach-of-contract penalties.

Repossession Purchase

A repossession purchase occurs when a bank or mortgage lender has seized legal ownership of a property and is selling it to recover an outstanding debt. By law, the lender has a strict duty to achieve the best possible price, which significantly alters the standard conveyancing process.

From a legal and timeline perspective, buying a repossessed property comes with unique, high-stress pressures:

• Continuous marketing and gazumping risk: The lender will continue to actively market the property right up until the exchange of contracts. They will typically place a public notice of your offer in the local newspaper or the estate agent's window. If a higher offer comes in just days before exchange, the lender is legally obligated to consider it, meaning you can easily lose out even after paying for your searches and surveys.
• Aggressive deadlines: To minimise their financial losses, the lender's asset management company will usually impose a strict 28-day deadline for you to exchange contracts. If you miss this deadline, they will frequently revoke the paperwork and find another buyer.
• Limited property information: Because the bank has never lived in the property, they will not provide a standard TA6 Property Information Form or any guarantees about the heating, wiring, or boundaries. Your solicitor must work at double speed to meet the 28-day deadline, but with far less background information to rely on.

Buying a house with cash: how long does it take?

Buying a property with cash is inherently faster than buying with a mortgage, but it is critical to understand that only the mortgage application and drawdown stages are bypassed. There is a common misconception that a cash purchase can be completed in mere weeks, but the legal due diligence, property searches, and third-party enquiries still dictate the timeline.

While a cash buyer has the freedom to cut corners—such as skipping property searches or ignoring complex legal enquiries - your solicitor will strongly advise against it. By taking a "warts and all" approach to speed up the transaction, a cash buyer risks inheriting severe legal defects that could render the property unsellable to anyone requiring a mortgage in the future.

Can you speed up how long it takes to buy a house?

Yes, you can. However, cutting corners to speed up the process often introduces significant legal and financial risks. If you want to safely accelerate the transaction, the best strategy is to eliminate administrative delays. Here is how both parties can speed up the timeline:

For the seller

• Complete protocol forms immediately: The issuing of draft contracts is frequently delayed by weeks simply because the seller takes too long to complete their TA6 and TA10 property information forms. If the draft contracts are not issued, the buyer's solicitor cannot order searches or raise enquiries, stalling the transaction before it even begins.
• Provide full and transparent information: Sellers often view form-filling as a painful administrative task and either provide vague answers or attempt to hide critical information (such as disputes with neighbours or missing building certificates), fearing it will jeopardise the sale. In reality, the buyer's solicitor will uncover these issues anyway. Disclosing everything upfront allows your solicitor to prepare solutions (like indemnity policies) immediately, saving weeks of back-and-forth enquiries later.
• Order the leasehold pack on day one: Sellers frequently delay paying for and ordering the Leasehold Management Pack (LPE1) because of the upfront cost, often waiting until their next payday. This is a false economy that will severely stall the process. You should organise and pay for this pack directly with your managing agent as soon as you accept an offer.

For the buyer

• Prepare your Source of Funds evidence: Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks are incredibly strict, and buyers often have complex deposit sources—such as overseas family gifts, stock investments, or cryptocurrency. Buyers sometimes provide limited bank statements to keep their overall wealth private, not realising that this triggers compliance red flags and halts the transaction. Provide your solicitor with a complete, unredacted paper trail on day one.
• Do not delay ordering searches: Buyers often hesitate to pay for their local authority searches until their formal mortgage offer is approved, hoping to avoid losing money if the lender rejects the property. Because council searches can take several weeks to be returned, delaying the initial order can easily add a month to the overall buying process.
• Book your RICS survey immediately: Similar to property searches, buyers often wait for their mortgage approval before booking a physical RICS Home Survey to save on upfront costs. Because surveyors in busy areas can have lead times of up to three weeks, waiting to book will create a severe bottleneck right in the middle of your transaction.