Having an offer accepted on a property is an exciting moment, but it is only the beginning of the legal process. Before the property officially becomes yours, there are several important steps to complete. This process is known as conveyancing, and it involves the legal work required to transfer ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer.
Conveyancing can feel confusing if you have not been through it before. There are solicitors or conveyancers to instruct, searches to order, documents to review, mortgage requirements to satisfy, contracts to exchange and completion arrangements to finalise. Understanding what happens after your offer is accepted can help you feel more prepared and reduce the risk of avoidable delays.
UK Legal Services helps clients access a range of legal services, including conveyancing support, quotes, appointments and tracking. Whether you are buying your first home, moving property or selling at the same time, getting the right legal support early can help the transaction progress more smoothly.
What Is Conveyancing?
Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from one person to another. When you buy a property, your conveyancer checks the legal title, reviews the contract, raises enquiries, arranges property searches, liaises with the seller’s solicitor, handles mortgage lender requirements and prepares the transaction for exchange and completion.
The conveyancer’s role is to protect your legal position before you commit to the purchase. They help identify potential issues with the property, such as title restrictions, rights of way, leasehold obligations, planning concerns, missing documents or other matters that may affect your decision to proceed.
Although the estate agent helps agree the sale, the conveyancer deals with the legal work that allows ownership to transfer properly.
Step 1: Instructing a Solicitor or Conveyancer
Once your offer is accepted, one of the first things to do is instruct a solicitor or licensed conveyancer. This should be done as early as possible because the legal process cannot properly begin until both the buyer and seller have legal representatives in place.
Your conveyancer will usually ask for identification, proof of address and information about your funding. This is part of the required client onboarding process and helps satisfy anti-money laundering checks. They may also ask for details of your mortgage lender, deposit source and whether you are selling another property at the same time.
Choosing the right legal professional matters because communication, attention to detail and experience can all affect how smoothly the transaction progresses. You can read more in Why Choosing the Right Solicitor Matters When Buying or Selling Property.
Step 2: The Memorandum of Sale Is Issued
After the offer is accepted, the estate agent will usually prepare a memorandum of sale. This document confirms the agreed price, the buyer and seller details, the property address and the solicitors acting for each side.
The memorandum of sale is not the same as a contract. It does not make the transaction legally binding, but it helps all parties begin the process with the correct information. The buyer’s and seller’s conveyancers can then make contact and start exchanging documents.
At this stage, the sale is usually still described as subject to contract. This means either party can normally withdraw before contracts are exchanged, although they may lose money already spent on surveys, searches or legal work.
Step 3: The Seller’s Solicitor Prepares the Contract Pack
The seller’s solicitor prepares a contract pack and sends it to the buyer’s conveyancer. This pack usually includes the draft contract, title documents, property information forms, fittings and contents form, leasehold information where applicable, and any other relevant documents.
The contract pack gives the buyer’s conveyancer the information needed to begin legal checks. They will review the ownership details, property boundaries, rights, restrictions, guarantees, planning paperwork and other legal information relating to the property.
If anything is missing or unclear, the buyer’s conveyancer will raise enquiries with the seller’s solicitor.
Step 4: Property Searches Are Ordered
Property searches are an important part of the buying process. They help reveal information that may not be obvious from viewing the property. Common searches include local authority searches, drainage and water searches, environmental searches and other location-specific checks.
Searches can highlight matters such as planning permissions, building control records, nearby road schemes, drainage connections, environmental risks, conservation areas or other issues that may affect the property.
The type of searches needed may depend on the property, location, lender requirements and the advice of your conveyancer. Searches are especially important because they can reveal information that could affect your decision to proceed, renegotiate or ask for further clarification.
Step 5: Your Mortgage Application Progresses
If you are buying with a mortgage, your lender will need to complete its own assessment. This usually includes affordability checks and a valuation of the property. The lender wants to confirm that the property is suitable security for the mortgage and that the borrowing appears affordable.
Your conveyancer also acts for the lender in many mortgage transactions. This means they must check that the lender’s legal requirements are satisfied before completion can take place.
It is important to respond quickly to any lender or adviser requests for documents. Delays with payslips, bank statements, identification, gifted deposit letters or other evidence can slow down the mortgage offer.
Step 6: A Survey May Be Arranged
A mortgage valuation is not the same as a property survey. The lender’s valuation is mainly for the lender’s benefit, while a survey is for your own understanding of the property’s condition.
A buyer may choose to arrange a survey to check for issues such as damp, structural movement, roof problems, timber defects, drainage concerns or other repair needs. The level of survey required depends on the age, condition and type of property.
If the survey identifies concerns, you may want to ask further questions, obtain specialist reports, renegotiate the price or reconsider the purchase. Your conveyancer can advise on legal points, but surveyors advise on physical condition.
Step 7: Enquiries Are Raised
After reviewing the contract pack and search results, the buyer’s conveyancer will raise enquiries with the seller’s solicitor. These are formal questions about the property and its legal position.
Enquiries may relate to planning permission, building regulation approval, guarantees, rights of way, boundaries, alterations, service charges, ground rent, disputes, access, restrictions or missing paperwork. For leasehold properties, enquiries may also involve the managing agent or freeholder.
This stage can take time because the seller, seller’s solicitor, managing agent, freeholder or third parties may need to provide replies. Clear and prompt responses can help keep the transaction moving.
Step 8: Leasehold Checks May Be Needed
If the property is leasehold, the conveyancing process is usually more detailed. Your conveyancer will need to review the lease, ground rent, service charges, restrictions, maintenance responsibilities, building insurance arrangements, management company information and any planned major works.
Leasehold properties can involve more parties than freehold properties, which can sometimes cause delays. The conveyancer may need information from the freeholder, landlord, management company or managing agent before the transaction can progress.
It is important to understand the lease terms before exchange because they can affect how you use the property, what you pay and what responsibilities you take on as the owner.
Step 9: The Report on Title Is Prepared
Once the conveyancer has reviewed the documents, searches and enquiry replies, they will prepare a report on title. This explains the key legal points about the property and highlights any issues you need to understand before signing the contract.
The report may cover ownership, boundaries, rights, restrictions, searches, planning, leasehold terms, mortgage conditions and completion requirements. It is important to read this carefully and ask questions if anything is unclear.
You should only proceed to exchange once you are satisfied with the legal position, mortgage offer, survey results and overall purchase arrangements.
Step 10: Signing the Contract and Mortgage Deed
Before exchange, you will usually be asked to sign the contract and, if you are buying with a mortgage, the mortgage deed. Signing the contract does not always mean you have exchanged immediately. Exchange happens when the solicitors formally exchange contracts and confirm the transaction is legally binding.
Your conveyancer will also request your deposit funds before exchange. This is often a percentage of the purchase price, but the exact amount should be confirmed by your conveyancer based on the transaction and agreed contract terms.
Funds should only ever be sent using verified bank details. Property transactions involve large sums of money, so it is important to be cautious about fraud and always confirm payment instructions directly with your conveyancer.
Step 11: Exchange of Contracts
Exchange of contracts is the point where the buyer and seller become legally committed to the transaction. The completion date is agreed, the contract becomes binding and both parties are expected to complete on the agreed date.
Before exchange, either party may usually withdraw. After exchange, withdrawing can have serious financial and legal consequences. This is why your conveyancer will only exchange once all important matters are satisfied, including searches, enquiries, mortgage offer, deposit arrangements and signed documents.
Once exchange has taken place, you can usually make firmer moving arrangements, book removals and prepare for completion.
Step 12: Between Exchange and Completion
The period between exchange and completion can vary depending on what the parties agree. During this time, your conveyancer prepares for completion by requesting mortgage funds, carrying out final searches, preparing a completion statement and arranging transfer of money.
You will usually receive a completion statement showing the balance needed to complete the purchase. This may include the purchase price balance, legal fees, search fees, Land Registry fees, Stamp Duty Land Tax where applicable and any other agreed costs.
You should make sure your funds are transferred in good time and that all paperwork requested by your conveyancer has been completed.
Step 13: Completion Day
Completion is the day ownership transfers and you can usually collect the keys. On completion day, the buyer’s solicitor sends the purchase money to the seller’s solicitor. Once the seller’s solicitor receives the funds, they confirm completion and the estate agent can release the keys.
Completion times can vary depending on bank transfers, mortgage funds, chain length and solicitor communication. If you are in a chain, completion may need to happen in sequence, with money moving from one transaction to the next.
Once completion has taken place, you become the legal owner of the property, although the post-completion registration work still needs to be completed.
Step 14: Stamp Duty and Land Registry Registration
After completion, your conveyancer will usually deal with Stamp Duty Land Tax requirements where applicable and apply to HM Land Registry to register you as the new owner. If you have a mortgage, the lender’s charge will also be registered against the property.
Land Registry registration can take time, especially for more complex transactions, new builds or leasehold properties. Your conveyancer should confirm once registration is complete.
If you want to understand property tax in more detail, see Stamp Duty Guidance for Property Buyers: What You Should Know.
How Long Does Conveyancing Take?
The timescale for conveyancing can vary. A straightforward purchase with no chain may move more quickly than a leasehold transaction, new build, shared ownership property or a purchase involving several linked sales.
Common causes of delay include slow search results, missing documents, mortgage offer delays, survey issues, leasehold management packs, unresolved enquiries, title defects or delays elsewhere in the chain.
Although not every delay can be avoided, instructing your conveyancer early, providing documents promptly and maintaining clear communication can help keep the transaction moving.
Common Issues That Can Arise
Conveyancing is designed to identify legal issues before you commit to the purchase. Some issues are minor and can be resolved with additional documents or clarification. Others may need more detailed advice.
Common issues can include missing building regulation certificates, lack of planning permission, boundary uncertainty, restrictive covenants, rights of way, lease defects, short leases, service charge disputes, lack of guarantees, unadopted roads or problems with access.
If an issue is found, your conveyancer will explain the legal impact and may recommend further enquiries, indemnity insurance, negotiation or, in serious cases, reconsidering the purchase.
How Buyers Can Help the Process Run Smoothly
Buyers can help reduce delays by acting quickly and staying organised. Instruct a conveyancer as soon as your offer is accepted, provide identification promptly, arrange mortgage documents early, respond to questions quickly and make sure your deposit funds are available when needed.
It is also useful to read all documents carefully rather than leaving them until the last minute. If you have questions about the report on title, search results, lease terms or completion statement, raise them early so they can be dealt with before exchange.
Good communication between the buyer, conveyancer, mortgage adviser and estate agent can make a significant difference throughout the process.
Why Legal Support Matters
Buying a property is a major financial and legal commitment. A conveyancer does more than process paperwork. They help check that the property can be transferred properly, that the lender’s requirements are met and that important legal risks are identified before you become legally committed.
The right support can be particularly valuable where the property is leasehold, older, altered, part of a chain, newly built, shared ownership, affected by planning issues or subject to unusual restrictions.
UK Legal Services can help clients access conveyancing support and other related legal services, including wills, company matters, trademarks and property-related guidance.
Speak to UK Legal Services
If your offer has been accepted, it is important to arrange conveyancing support as early as possible. The sooner your solicitor or conveyancer is instructed, the sooner searches, legal checks and communication with the seller’s solicitor can begin.
Get in touch with UK Legal Services today to discuss conveyancing support and request guidance for your property transaction.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Conveyancing requirements can vary depending on the property, lender, location and individual circumstances. Independent legal advice should be sought before entering into any property transaction.