Understanding how long each stage of conveyancing usually takes helps everyone involved—buyers, sellers, lenders, and agents—plan finances, removals, and hand-overs with fewer surprises. While every deal carries its own quirks, the outline below reflects the rhythm our lawyers at Conveyance Lawyers JA see most often. We aim for efficiency without sacrificing thoroughness, and we keep clients updated whenever milestones shift.
Initial Phase (Weeks 1–2)
This foundational period sets the stage for the entire transaction and determines whether deadlines later on will be realistic or rushed.
Instruction & searches
The process starts when a buyer or seller formally instructs a real estate lawyer. Within days we collect identification, gather preliminary details, and launch critical searches. A title search at the National Land Agency (NLA) confirms who owns the land, lists mortgages or caveats, and highlights restrictive covenants. At the same time, we request local authority searches to spot planning breaches or unpaid parish taxes. Finding problems early gives everyone room to negotiate solutions rather than scramble at the eleventh hour.
Drafting contracts
While searches get under way, the seller’s lawyer drafts the Agreement for Sale, covering purchase price, deposit, completion date, and any conditions like repairs or zoning approvals. The buyer’s lawyer reviews the draft line by line, proposing tweaks to protect their client’s interests. A short round of focused negotiation usually follows, producing a contract that both sides are comfortable signing and that lenders can rely on when assessing risk.
Mid-Phase (Weeks 3–6)
This stretch is defined by deep investigation and finalising the money that will fund completion.
Due diligence & inspections
Once the Agreement for Sale is in place, full due diligence accelerates. We often commission a surveyor’s identification report to verify boundaries and detect encroachments—and, if the buyer wishes, a structural or valuation inspection. Our lawyers review each report in the context of title records, making sure the physical facts on the ground match the legal rights on paper. Discoveries here may trigger fresh negotiations, price adjustments, or conditions precedent to completion.
Financing arrangements
Buyers who need a mortgage finalise their loan applications during this window. Banks request pay slips, tax returns, and sometimes an additional valuation of the property. Clear communication with the lender is crucial: delays in credit approval can push the whole timeline back. We keep in touch with loan officers, supply any legal opinions they require, and flag upcoming completion dates so approvals land on time.
Final Phase (Weeks 7+)
These final steps turn signed contracts into registered legal ownership.
Exchange & completion
After due diligence is clear and financing is locked in, completion can proceed. The buyer pays the balance of the price, along with stamp duty, transfer tax, and registration fees. Both parties sign the Transfer Instrument (TR1) in the presence of a Justice of the Peace or Notary Public, and keys change hands. From this moment, the buyer enjoys beneficial ownership and can take possession of the property.
Registration & handover
Post-completion, we lodge the TR1, tax receipts, and supporting documents with the National Land Agency for official registration. The NLA examines the papers, cancels the seller’s Certificate of Title, and issues a fresh title in the buyer’s name. Processing may take several weeks—or months if workload is heavy—but we track progress, answer requisitions quickly, and collect the new Certificate of Title the moment it is ready. Only then is the conveyance fully complete and your ownership beyond doubt.
While this outline reflects a typical timeline, external factors—bank holidays, lender backlogs, or unexpected title defects—can extend or compress stages. Conveyance Lawyers ja stays proactive, communicates delays early, and works to keep the deal moving toward a timely and secure close.