How long does it take to buy a house?
By Chris Pollitt · Last checked 6 November 2026 · 2 min read
From the moment your offer is accepted to the day you get the keys, buying a home in England or Wales usually takes somewhere between three and five months. Some sales go through in a few weeks, others drag on for more than six months. Most of the difference comes down to a few predictable things.
A typical timeline
- Week 1: offer accepted. You instruct a conveyancer and submit your mortgage application. The seller's conveyancer prepares a draft contract and the property information forms.
- Weeks 2 to 6: your conveyancer orders searches (local authority, water and drainage, environmental) and reviews the contract. The lender arranges its valuation. You book your own survey.
- Weeks 4 to 10: searches come back, your conveyancer raises questions (enquiries) with the seller's side, and your mortgage offer is issued.
- Weeks 8 to 14: enquiries are answered, you review the final report from your conveyancer, sign the contract and transfer the deposit.
- Exchange: both sides are now legally committed, and a completion date is fixed.
- Completion: often one to two weeks after exchange. The money is transferred and you collect the keys.
What slows things down
Chains. If the seller is buying another home, and their seller is buying too, every link has to be ready at the same time. One slow link holds everyone up.
Searches. Local authority search times vary a lot between councils. Some return them in days, others take weeks.
Leasehold property. Your conveyancer will need information from the freeholder or managing agent, such as service charge accounts and building insurance. This is one of the most common causes of long delays.
Missing paperwork. If work was done without planning permission or building regulations approval, sorting it out, or arranging indemnity insurance, takes time.
Mortgage problems. A low valuation or questions about your income can mean going back and forth with the lender.
How to speed it up
- Have your mortgage agreement in principle, deposit and ID ready before you offer.
- Choose a conveyancer who is responsive. Ask how many cases each person handles and how they keep you updated.
- Reply to your conveyancer and lender the same day where you can.
- Book your survey as soon as the offer is accepted.
- If buying leasehold, ask the seller to request the management pack early.
- Agree a target timescale with the seller at the start, so everyone works to the same plan.
Can I move in before completion?
Normally no. You get the keys on completion day, once the money has reached the seller's conveyancer. Some sellers allow access before then to measure up or get quotes, but it's a favour, not a right.