How long does conveyancing take in 2025?

But after you’ve agreed the sale price, the legal process of conveyancing kicks in, something which can take an age and may dampen some of your initial enthusiasm about moving house.

What is conveyancing?

You can’t buy or sell a home in England or Wales without going through conveyancing. Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring ownership of a property from one person to another. This process involves a property solicitor, or licensed conveyancer, handling legal and administrative tasks like drafting and reviewing contracts, conducting property and title searches, liaising with other parties like estate agents and lenders, arranging financial transactions, and registering the new owner with the Land Registry.

How long from offer to completion?

Conveyancing starts after an offer is accepted and concludes once the sale has been finalised, keys have been handed over, and the new ownership is legally recorded.  A conveyancer’s role is to ensure the legal and smooth transfer of ownership.

During 2025, conveyancing has typically taking approximately 12 weeks. However this varies depending on the complexity of the property chain, the speed of local authority searches, and mortgage application processing times. In many cases, a simple, no-chain transaction is quicker, whilst issues like delays in a chain or problems identified during property surveys or searches can also extend the process.

No two house sales are the same

The reason for it taking so many weeks, is really down to the number of steps involved. These include the need for thorough checks, the reliance on third parties, and complexities like chains of multiple linked transactions.

Proactive service

Helen Checketts, Head of Property: Conveyancing at Alsters Kelley said. “Buying and selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions you will undertake. It’s important that it’s undertaken with care with a friendly and proactive conveyancer on your side every step of the way to answer questions in a timely manner, anticipate problems, understand implications, clearly explain your survey findings. It also helps if you can be certain from the outset, that there won’t be any hidden fees lurking along the way.”

Helen continues. “At Alsters Kelley, we have helped thousands of people to purchase and sell property. Our approachable, skilled and highly dedicated conveyancing team are accredited members of the Law Society’s conveyancing quality scheme. They are also panel members for all leading mortgage providers. We also offer an easy-to-use, fixed fee, ‘No Hidden Fees’ conveyancing quotation. Fill out our quick online form and you’ll receive an instant estimated quote, which guarantees that you won’t be charged any additional costs.”

At Alsters Kelley, we aim to help make your property transaction as quick and as stress free as possible. And thanks to our network of offices covering Banbury, Coventry, Leamington, Nuneaton, Stratford-upon-Avon and Southam, we are very accessible too. For timely, helpful and quality advice, please contact Helen Checketts, Head of Property: Conveyancing at Alsters Kelley on 01926 356 000 or email helen.checketts@alsterskelley.com.