Speeding up conveyancing delays

The Cedar Crest Team
12 minutes ago
3 min read

Reasons for delays in transactions and practical steps for buyers and sellers

CONVEYANCING, THE LEGAL PROCESS of transferring property ownership, is a primary cause of delays in buying and selling a home. Even after an offer is accepted, transactions can halt for weeks or even months while legal checks are completed.

With average completion times often extending to 12 to 16 weeks[1], buyers and sellers alike are seeking ways to avoid unnecessary delays.

Why Does Conveyancing Take So Long?

Conveyancing involves several stages, including verifying title deeds, performing local authority and environmental searches, checking mortgage conditions, and ensuring contracts are legally valid. Each stage relies on information from third parties, including councils, lenders, and surveyors. Delays in obtaining this information are a significant reason why transactions slow down[2].

Other factors include incomplete paperwork, slow responses between solicitors, and chains where one delayed transaction stalls several others. Rising transaction volumes during busy market periods can impose additional pressure on local authorities and legal firms.

What Buyers Can Do

Buyers can expedite the process by preparing in advance. Having a mortgage in principle agreed before making an offer ensures that finance is ready to proceed once a property is identified. Providing identification and proof of funds promptly also helps solicitors meet anti-money laundering requirements without delay.

Instructing a solicitor as soon as an offer is accepted, or even earlier, allows the legal process to start immediately. Buyers should also respond swiftly to requests for information, as even minor delays in returning documents can extend the timeline by days or weeks.

“Conveyancing works best when all parties stay proactive. Both buyers and sellers benefit from choosing solicitors capable of handling cases swiftly.”

What Sellers Can Do

Sellers also play a crucial role. Having title deeds, property information forms, and any planning permissions or building regulation certificates ready can minimise the time solicitors spend chasing missing documents. Addressing issues such as boundary disputes or leasehold details before marketing the property helps to avoid later complications.

Sellers can also instruct a solicitor early, even before accepting an offer, to prepare contracts in advance. This way, draft contracts are ready to send as soon as a buyer is found.

Shared Responsibility

Conveyancing works best when all parties stay proactive. Both buyers and sellers benefit from choosing solicitors capable of handling cases swiftly. Clear communication helps prevent delays in one part of the chain from affecting the rest. When transactions involve multiple linked sales and purchases, it is especially important to keep all solicitors updated regularly.

Looking Ahead

Digitalisation is starting to enhance the process. Many local authorities now provide searches electronically, and an increasing number of solicitors use online portals for sharing documents. The Law Society has also emphasised the potential for greater use of upfront information, where key documents are supplied before a sale is finalised, to considerably reduce delays[3].

Although conveyancing is unlikely to ever be instant, buyers and sellers can take practical steps to reduce delays. Preparation, prompt responses, and early engagement of solicitors remain the most effective means of accelerating the process from offer to completion.