Conveyancing is the legal process that transfers ownership of a property to you, and it runs alongside your mortgage. This guide explains conveyancing: what it is, who does it, the main steps from searches to completion, the difference between exchange and completion, the costs, and how long it takes.
What conveyancing is
Conveyancing is the legal work involved in buying or selling a property, transferring ownership from the seller to the buyer and ensuring the title is sound, as our guide to the mortgage application process explains. It runs in parallel with arranging your mortgage. So conveyancing is the legal side of a property purchase, handling the contracts, checks and transfer that turn an agreed sale into your legal ownership of the home.
Who does conveyancing
Conveyancing is carried out by a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer, whom you instruct to act for you in the purchase. Your lender may also require the conveyancer to act for them. So you choose and appoint a conveyancer to handle the legal work. Picking a reliable, responsive conveyancer and instructing them promptly helps the process run smoothly, as much of the buying timeline depends on the legal work.
Searches and enquiries
Your conveyancer carries out searches, with the local authority and others, to uncover issues affecting the property, such as planning, drainage or environmental matters, and raises enquiries with the seller's side to clarify details, as our guide to surveys relates. So these checks protect you by revealing things that could affect the property or its value. Searches and enquiries are an important part of conveyancing, ensuring you know what you are buying.
Contracts and exchange
Once searches, enquiries, the mortgage offer and finances are in order, the contracts are prepared and, when both sides are ready, contracts are exchanged. At exchange, the sale becomes legally binding and a completion date is set, as our guide to buying and selling relates. So exchange is the point of no return, after which neither side can usually pull out without penalty. Reaching exchange is a major milestone in the buying process.
Exchange versus completion
Exchange and completion are different stages: at exchange the contract becomes binding and a deposit is usually paid, while completion is when the balance is paid, ownership transfers, and you get the keys, as our guide to moving costs relates. So there is usually a gap between exchange and completion, often a week or two. Understanding the difference helps you know when the purchase is secured and when you can move in.
The costs
Conveyancing involves costs: the conveyancer's fees for their work, plus disbursements such as search fees and Land Registry fees, and you will also pay any stamp duty due, which the conveyancer usually handles, as our guide to the true cost of buying explains. So budget for conveyancing as part of your buying costs. Getting a clear quote from your conveyancer upfront helps you understand what you will pay.
How long it takes
Conveyancing commonly takes several weeks to a few months, depending on the property, the searches, the chain, and how quickly everyone responds, as our guide to mortgage chains explains. So it is a significant part of the buying timeline. Choosing a responsive conveyancer, responding promptly yourself, and being patient where a chain is involved all help the conveyancing, and your purchase, proceed as smoothly as possible.
Choosing a conveyancer
Choosing a good conveyancer matters, as much of the buying timeline depends on the legal work, so look for one who is reputable, responsive and clear about costs, and check your lender accepts them, as our guide to a moving checklist relates. So it is worth choosing carefully rather than purely on price. A responsive, efficient conveyancer can make the difference between a smooth purchase and a frustrating, drawn-out one.
Leasehold conveyancing
Conveyancing for a leasehold property, such as many flats, is more involved, as the conveyancer must check the lease terms, ground rent, service charges and any restrictions, which can take longer, as our guide to leasehold ownership relates. So leasehold purchases need extra legal attention. Understanding that leasehold conveyancing is more complex helps you allow for the additional time and checks involved when buying a leasehold home.
What can slow conveyancing
Conveyancing can be slowed by delays in searches, slow responses to enquiries, complications in the title or lease, mortgage delays, or a long chain, as our guide to mortgage chains explains. So some delays are outside your control, but staying responsive helps. Knowing the common causes lets you do your part promptly and understand why the process sometimes takes longer than hoped, especially in a chain.
The deposit at exchange
At exchange of contracts, the buyer usually pays a deposit, often around 10% of the purchase price, which is at risk if you then fail to complete, as our guide to deposits relates. So exchange is a significant financial commitment. Understanding that the deposit is paid and at risk from exchange, not completion, helps you appreciate why exchange is the point at which the purchase becomes binding.
Registering your ownership
After completion, your conveyancer registers your ownership with the Land Registry and deals with any stamp duty due, finalising the legal side, as our guide to stamp duty explains. So there is some legal tidying-up after you get the keys. Your conveyancer handles this, completing the formalities that confirm you as the registered owner and ensure any tax is paid, which concludes the conveyancing process.
Staying in touch
Staying in touch with your conveyancer, responding promptly to their requests, and asking about progress helps keep the conveyancing moving, as delays in providing information or signing documents can hold things up, as our guide to the application process relates. So your engagement matters. Being responsive and keeping in contact with your conveyancer is one of the most useful things you can do to help your purchase complete smoothly.
The end of the journey
Conveyancing brings the buying journey to its legal conclusion, turning your agreed purchase and approved mortgage into your registered ownership of the home, as our guide to buying and selling relates. So while it can feel like a lot of legal process, it exists to protect you and secure your ownership. Understanding the steps helps you approach conveyancing with confidence rather than confusion, right through to getting the keys.
Conveyancing can feel like the slow, invisible part of buying a home, but it is the process that makes the home legally yours, so choosing a good conveyancer and staying engaged is well worth the effort.
Knowing roughly what happens at each stage, and why, takes much of the mystery out of the legal side of buying, so that the path from accepted offer to registered owner feels far more navigable than it first appears.
In short
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership, carried out by a solicitor or licensed conveyancer. It involves searches and enquiries to uncover issues, preparing and exchanging contracts (when the sale becomes binding), and completion (when ownership transfers and you get the keys). It involves fees, disbursements and stamp duty, and commonly takes several weeks to a few months, depending on the chain and how quickly everyone responds.
Where to get help and next steps
Read our guides to valuations and surveys, how the application works, and stamp duty. This is general information, not legal, mortgage or financial advice.