Key takeaways
- A chain-free freehold purchase usually takes 8 to 12 weeks from offer accepted to completion.
- With a chain and a mortgage, 12 to 16 weeks is more typical.
- Leasehold often adds around four weeks while the management pack arrives.
- Exchange and completion are usually one to two weeks apart.
- Instructing a solicitor early, with your ID and paperwork ready, is the easiest way to save time.
The short answer
A straightforward freehold purchase in Kent, with no chain, usually takes 8 to 12 weeks from offer accepted to completion. With a chain, a mortgage and the usual back-and-forth, 12 to 16 weeks is more typical. Leasehold flats often add around four weeks while the management pack arrives.
Nobody can promise a date at the start, because your move depends on everyone else in the chain. What you can control is how quickly your own side moves.
Conveyancing timeline, stage by stage
| Stage | Typical timing | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Instruct a solicitor | Week 1 | You accept the quote, sign the client care letter and complete ID and anti-money-laundering checks |
| 2. Contract pack | Weeks 1–3 | The seller’s solicitor sends the draft contract, title and property information forms |
| 3. Searches | Weeks 1–6 | Your solicitor orders local authority, drainage and environmental searches |
| 4. Mortgage and survey | Weeks 2–6 | Your lender values the home and issues a mortgage offer; you arrange any survey |
| 5. Enquiries | Weeks 3–10 | Your solicitor raises questions on the title, searches and forms, and the seller replies |
| 6. Report and signing | Weeks 8–12 | Your solicitor reports to you, you sign the contract and transfer, and send your deposit |
| 7. Exchange of contracts | When the chain is ready | Contracts are exchanged and the move becomes legally binding, with a completion date fixed |
| 8. Completion | Usually 1–2 weeks after exchange | The money is sent, keys are released and you own the home |
How long each type of move takes
| Type of move | Typical time | What usually sets the pace |
|---|---|---|
| Buying a freehold home | 8–14 weeks | Searches, mortgage offer and the seller’s onward chain |
| Selling a home | 8–12 weeks | Your buyer’s mortgage and searches |
| Buying and selling | 10–16 weeks | Lining up exchange on both sides |
| Leasehold flat or house | 10–16 weeks | The management pack from the freeholder or managing agent |
| Cash purchase with no chain | 6–8 weeks | Searches and the seller’s solicitor |
| New build | Set by the developer | Build completion and the developer’s deadline to exchange |
| Remortgage | 2–4 weeks | The new lender’s offer |
| Transfer of equity | 4–8 weeks | Lender consent |
What slows conveyancing down
- The chain. Your move can only go as fast as the slowest link.
- Searches. Some councils take several weeks at busy times.
- The mortgage. Valuations, extra paperwork and lender queries add weeks.
- Leasehold packs. Managing agents can take weeks to reply, and lease problems need fixing.
- Missing paperwork. No building regulations sign-off, planning consent or guarantees for work done.
- Slow replies. Unanswered emails and forms, from buyers and sellers alike.
How to speed up your move
If you are buying:
- Instruct a solicitor the day your offer is accepted, so searches go in straight away. See when to instruct a solicitor.
- Have your ID, proof of address and proof of where your deposit comes from ready.
- Apply for your mortgage early and reply to your lender quickly.
- Book any survey as soon as your offer is agreed.
If you are selling:
- Instruct a solicitor when you put your home on the market, not when you find a buyer.
- Fill in the property information forms early and gather certificates, guarantees and planning paperwork.
- If you own a leasehold flat, ask the managing agent for the management pack early.
What affects timescales in Kent
Three local factors come up again and again:
- Leasehold is common in some towns. In the last year, about a third of homes sold in Westgate-on-Sea and Tunbridge Wells were leasehold, and over a quarter in Folkestone and Margate. Allow extra time for the management pack.
- Council search times vary. Each Kent district council works at its own pace. See conveyancing searches explained.
- New-build estates. Developers around Ashford, Dartford and Sittingbourne often set tight deadlines to exchange, so have your solicitor and mortgage lined up before you reserve.
Exchange and completion explained
Exchange of contracts is the point the sale becomes legally binding. You pay your deposit, and the completion date is fixed. Before exchange, either side can still pull out.
Completion is moving day. Your solicitor sends the money, the seller’s solicitor confirms receipt, and the keys are released. Exchange and completion are usually one to two weeks apart, though they can happen on the same day.
FAQs
How long conveyancing takes: FAQs
How long does it take from offer accepted to completion?
Usually 8 to 16 weeks in Kent. A chain-free freehold purchase can complete in 8 to 12 weeks; a purchase in a chain or a leasehold flat often takes 12 to 16 weeks or more.
Can conveyancing be done in 4 weeks?
Only rarely, for example a cash buyer with no chain, a well-prepared seller and fast searches. Most moves with a mortgage take at least 8 weeks.
Why is my conveyancing taking so long?
The usual causes are waiting for searches, the mortgage offer, a leasehold management pack or someone else in the chain. Ask your solicitor what is outstanding and who is waiting for what.
How long is it between exchange and completion?
Usually one to two weeks, though it can be the same day or longer if everyone agrees. The date is fixed when contracts are exchanged.
Does leasehold conveyancing take longer?
Yes, usually by around four weeks. Your solicitor needs the lease and a management pack from the freeholder or managing agent, and any lease problems must be sorted before exchange.
Related
Related guides
Official guidance: Buying or selling your home (GOV.UK) · SRA register of solicitors · Stamp Duty Land Tax (GOV.UK)
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