Buying a property is one of the largest financial commitments most people make. The conveyancing process — the legal transfer of ownership — involves several stages, each with its own risks and requirements.

Stage 1: Instructing a Conveyancer

Once your offer is accepted, instruct a solicitor or licensed conveyancer. They will handle all legal aspects of the purchase, including reviewing the contract, raising enquiries, and registering your ownership at the Land Registry.

Stage 2: Searches and Enquiries

Your conveyancer will commission searches to reveal issues that might affect the property or your use of it:

  • Local authority search — planning permissions, road schemes, enforcement notices
  • Environmental search — flood risk, contaminated land, ground stability
  • Water and drainage search — public sewer connections
  • Title search — confirms the seller's ownership and reveals any charges or restrictions

Stage 3: Mortgage Offer and Survey

Your lender will require a valuation. Separately, you should commission an independent survey — a HomeBuyer Report or full structural survey — to identify defects that could affect the value or your safety.

Stage 4: Exchange of Contracts

Exchange is the critical milestone. Once both parties sign and exchange contracts, the sale becomes legally binding. You will pay a deposit (typically 10%) and agree a completion date. Withdrawing after exchange means forfeiting your deposit and potentially facing a damages claim.

Stage 5: Completion

On completion day, the balance of the purchase price is transferred, and ownership legally passes to you. Your conveyancer will register the transaction at the Land Registry and deal with Stamp Duty Land Tax (or its equivalent in Scotland and Wales).

Common Delays

Conveyancing transactions are vulnerable to delays at every stage — chains collapsing, slow searches, mortgage offer delays, and disputed enquiries. Budget for at least 8–12 weeks from offer to completion on a straightforward transaction.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Instruct a qualified conveyancer before exchanging contracts.