Completion Day Timeline: Everything You Need to Do on Moving Day in 2026
Completion day is the final hurdle in your property journey, marking the official handover of ownership and the moment you finally receive your keys. Unlike the post-completion phase, where your solicitor handles the paperwork, today is all about fast-paced logistics and high-value enquiries. From ensuring mortgage funds arrive via the CHAPS system to coordinating with removal teams and estate agents, every minute counts.
You can't collect your keys until the seller has received all the completion money and has moved everything out of the house. With long chains, sellers still in boxes, and delays with the banking system, you could be stuck in a position you can't control.
This guide provides a minute-by-minute timeline to help you navigate the final move and ensure all legal obligations are finalised without a hitch. If you haven't yet reached this stage, ensure your legal position is secure by reading our guide on Exchanging Contracts: A Guide to Legally Binding Your Move.
Happens on
Completion day?
By Andrew Boast, CEO of SAM Conveyancing
Typical Completion Day Timeline
This is a very typical completion day timeline for a buyer at the start of the chain and the seller. As you'll see as we go on, delays can occur, especially if you are further along in the chain.
Time | Key Milestone | Responsibility |
| 09:00 | Seller finalises packing and prepares to vacate. | Seller |
| 10:30 | The buyer’s solicitor sends the completion money via CHAPS. | Buyer's Solicitor |
| 11:15 | Seller’s solicitor confirms receipt of funds. | Seller's Solicitor |
| 11:15 | Seller’s solicitor pays off seller's mortgage, releases proceeds of sale to the seller, and pays estate agent invoice. | Seller's Solicitor |
| 11:20 | Legal completion has occurred; the Estate Agent is authorised to release the keys. | Estate Agent |
| 12:00 | Buyer collects keys and begins moving in. | Buyer |
How is the money sent to the seller's solicitor?
Once the solicitor at the bottom of the chain has their mortgage advance and the balance from their client, they will send the money to the seller's solicitor by bank transfer using the CHAPS system.
The Role of the CHAPS System on Completion Day
CHAPS stands for Clearing House Automated Payment System and is a same-day bank transfer. You can send any amount of money using CHAPS; however, the cut-off time for sending the transfer is usually around 4:25 pm or 6 pm, depending on the bank.
Whilst a CHAPS is guaranteed to be received on the same day, this doesn't mean it is instantaneous. For example, a solicitor may send completion monies at 11 am, but the seller's solicitor may not receive it until much later in the day.
What time do you get the keys on completion day?
Keys might be released any time between 9 am and 4.25 pm. They aren't released when the buyer's solicitor has sent the CHAPS; they will be released when the seller's solicitor confirms receipt of the CHAPS transfer. As we have seen above, a CHAPS payment is only guaranteed to be received on the same day, so there may be several hours between sending and receipt.
Does my position in the chain affect when I get my keys?
Keys are typically released between 10 am and 11 am for the first buyer in the chain. When there are multiple buyers in the chain, they will collect their keys later in the day:
Time | Where are you in the chain? |
9 am to 11 am | The First buyer in the chain collects keys. |
11 am to 12 pm | The second buyer in the chain collects keys. |
12 pm to 1 pm | The third buyer in the chain collects keys. |
1 pm to 2 pm | The fourth buyer in the chain collects keys. |
Whilst the above is an indication, the truth is that on the day, someone in a chain that long will delay the process. We cover below everything that could, can and will go wrong, and what you can do about it.
Do you have to pick up keys on the completion date?
No, you can pick the keys up on the day of completion or after. You won't be able to pick them up before the seller's solicitor has authorised their release. There is no legal reason why you have to collect the keys on the completion date; however, there are reasons why you should:
- You need to take meter readings for gas, electricity and water;
- You need to ensure the property is vacant and all fittings and contents removed; and
- You need to ensure the property is secure following the seller's vacation.
- Your home insurance may be invalidated if you don't have the keys to access the property.
How Long Does The Seller Have To Move Out?
The seller has until the deadline to vacate, and they must ensure they take all their belongings with them. You may find the seller is still packing up when you arrive at the property to collect your keys.
You need to be careful not to rush the seller to vacate until they are ready, just so you can get your keys. If you rush the seller, you may end up with a house full of their stuff. Read more on this: Seller left personal property in house - what can you legally do?
What are the top 5 things that delay completions?
No matter how well prepared you and your solicitor may be, human error and systematic hiccups can cause delays on completion day, especially if you have a long chain. Here are the common issues, and what you can do to fix them.
The most common reasons for delays on the day of completion are:
Delay on Completion | What can you do? |
No mortgage advance | If your solicitor hasn't received the mortgage funds, they cannot send the completion monies to the seller. The bank sends large batches of mortgage money at different times throughout the day, and yours may be sitting in the catch and sent later. The simple solution is to have the mortgage funds released the day before completion. You pay interest on the mortgage from the date sent, but you'll be happier to complete earlier than sitting waiting for your mortgage money to be sent. |
No money from your buyer | If the solicitor hasn't received the completion money from your related sale, your onward purchase cannot proceed. Money might be in the banking system; however, on the day of completion, a CHAPS is only guaranteed to be received that day, so although some turn up within a few minutes, some bank transfers are delayed by hours. To avoid this, ensure you send your completion monies the day before completion and factor in your daily bank transfer limits. Some bank accounts are limited to only £10,000 per day unless you go into the bank and organise the CHAPS transfer in person. |
No Signed Documents | If your solicitor hasn't received the original of your mortgage or transfer deed, completion cannot take place. The solution is to always return all documents by special delivery, or if you live near your solicitor, drop them in person. |
The Seller is Still Packing | It is very common for a seller in the chain to be unwilling to move out, which can hold up the whole chain. A seller must only leave what they said they would in the fittings and content forms for the buyer, so if they have been slow to pack up, the buyer could be waiting a long time to complete the transaction. |
Removals Company | If the removals company is held up or is double-booked, you may find the seller is unable to vacate the property because all their stuff is still in it. It is unlikely you'll be able to get a removals company on the day, so you're faced with packing everything into a white van or delaying completion. |
What if you don't complete by 4.25 pm?
4.25 pm is the cut-off time for most solicitors to complete, as the CHAPS banking system closes. If the completion monies are received by the seller's solicitors too close to, or after the cut-off time for redeeming their mortgage, the seller's solicitor may not release the keys and complete the sale. This means completion won't take place, and the buyer won't be given access to the property.
By this time, the seller's solicitor should have already served notice to complete on the buyer's solicitor, and the buyer will be liable for:
- The cost payable to the seller's solicitor for drafting the Notice to Complete, normally between £120 and £360, INC VAT;
- interest of the purchase price less any deposit already paid; and
- any other delayed completion compensation (removal fees, hotel costs, storage fees, etc.)
Once the buyer pays for the delayed completion costs, completion will occur the next working day (which could be Monday if you fail to complete it on Friday).
There are occasions where the solicitors will agree with the chain for everyone to move into their new property 'under licence' until completion formally takes place. This can only happen if the seller has received the completion monies from the buyer, but isn't able to settle their mortgage and complete. The buyer is still likely to receive notice from the seller's solicitor; however, they will be able to move into their new property.
How to calculate the interest due?
The Complete Buyer's Completion Day Checklist
Once keys have been released these are all the things you need to-do.
Take Meter Readings
This includes the gas, water and electricity. You don't want to get this wrong, or else you'll be paying for the seller's usage.Check you have all the keys
Side doors, windows, garage, and even the shed. You need all the keys to every part of the house.Change the alarm
If there is an alarm, get the code from the seller and immediately change the code of the alarm. Your home insurance is invalidated if you are broken into and someone else has access to your alarm.Check for the seller's property or damage
Whilst you're checking, you have all the keys, look around the whole house, loft and sheds to make sure the seller has left nothing in the property. If the seller has left stuff in the house, then they haven't left vacant possession, and you should speak to your solicitor. Equally, if the seller damages the property whilst they are moving out, then they have an obligation to fix that damage.Keep a parking space for your removals van
If there isn't a lot of parking space at the property, then look to use your own car to protect the access for your removals van to get as close as possible to your house. Your back will thank you for not having to lug any heavy items any further than is absolutely necessary.
When does the Land Registry get updated?
The title ownership transfers on the day of completion; however, the Land Registry won't get updated for a few months after you complete. The solicitor still needs to do the post-completion work, including filing and paying the stamp duty, obtaining notices to complete and then the final submission to the Land Registry.
The Land Registry are slow for updating the new title owners, and it can take anywhere from 6 to 24 months. See here for current registration times: HM Land Registry: processing times.
What Happens After You Complete?
Once your completion is finalised, you'll have collected your keys and be moving into your new home. Your solicitor will file and pay your stamp duty and update the Land Registry.
The period after you've moved in is when you'll be unpacking and getting all of your admin in order.
Your Next Step in the Conveyancing Process:
Your post-completion jobs include taking your meter readings, informing the council, updating your address, and activating your broadband and landline. Your solicitor will handle SDLT, updating the Land Registry, and, if you're buying a leasehold, obtaining notice.
Andrew started his career in 2000 working within conveyancing solicitor firms and grew hands-on knowledge of a wide variety of conveyancing challenges and solutions. After helping in excess of 50,000 clients in his career, he uses all this experience within his article writing for SAM, mainstream media and his self published book How to Buy a House Without Killing Anyone.
Caragh is an excellent writer and copy editor of books, news articles and editorials. She has written extensively for SAM for a variety of conveyancing, survey, property law and mortgage-related articles.
