Conveyancing FAQs

Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring property ownership from one person(s) to another. This process is usually carried out by a conveyancing solicitor.

The average length of time is 12-16 weeks, though it is common for transactions involved in longer chains to take 6 months or more.

A conveyancing solicitor will:

    • Advise their clients: provide insights on the conveyancing process, and keep them informed about any progress. 
    • Arrange searches: uncover any potential issues with the property itself or local area. 
    • Draft contracts: ensure both sides are happy with the arrangement before exchanging.
    • Liaise with other professionals: these might include estate agents, mortgage advisors, and the solicitors advising other parties in the ‘chain’. Deal with the finances: review financial records and facilitate the eventual transfer of funds when the sale is complete.

 

A property survey is not compulsory, but strongly encouraged when purchasing a property. It is a check carried out by a licensed professional which identifies any issues with the building’s condition prior to the new owners finally committing to purchase it. This is so that any risks or future expenses don’t come as a surprise.

The conveyancing solicitor for the seller creates a draft contract which outlines the terms of the sale of the property. It is called a draft contract as it is not legally binding until the contracts are exchanged.

Completion day is the final stage in conveyancing and is when the buyer takes possession of the property. It is when the funds are transferred across, and usually takes place anywhere between a week and a month from contracts being exchanged. This length of time can be affected by many things:

  • Delays in the money being transferred 
  • How proactive the solicitors and estate agents are in pushing through each stage of the proces
  • Other transactions in the chain
  • The mortgage lender
  • Building delays with newbuild properties

For an update regarding your completion date, ask your conveyancing solicitor.

An exchange of contracts is when the contracts become legally binding and both parties are from that point on, legally obligated to proceed with the property purchase and sale. Completion, meaning the transfer of funds in exchange for ownership of the property, usually happens less than a month later.

The exchange of contracts takes place once each party is happy with the terms set out and all legal checks, property searches and building surveys have taken place.  

A ‘chain’ means that there are several properties that need to change ownership on the same day. A chain will have one person(s) who are only buying at one end of the chain (first-time buyers and investors, for example) and one person(s) at the other end of the chain who are only selling (a company selling newbuild homes, or someone moving into long-term care). Between these two parties will be person(s) who need to both buy and sell a property.

When there is a long chain, conveyancing can take much longer because it can take a while for the ‘chain’ to be ‘complete’. There is also a higher potential for one ‘link’ in the chain to pull out of the purchase, thus, everyone has to wait while the parties involved have to find new buyers/sellers.

Property searches are legal enquiries that a solicitor will make with the relevant authorities in order to gather information about a property that their client is in the process of purchasing. Property searches are required for buyers with a mortgage, but it is still recommended for cash buyers too. 

Property searches will uncover any potential issues like risk of flooding, future developments in the local area, and planning permission restrictions.

Whether you will have to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) when you buy a property depends on its value. From 1st April 2025 in England and Northern Ireland, if you buy a freehold, leasehold, or shared ownership property above £125,000 in value, you will pay SDLT. If you are a first time buyer, you will only pay SDLT if buying a property worth £300,000 or more.

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Based on 609 reviews
23 Oct 2026

Our solicitor Vicki Jones was amazing

Our solicitor Vicki Jones was fantastic, she was always contactable and at every step of thexway explained in simple terms the stage we are at and what we needed to do next. I highly recommend Eric Robinson and especially Vicki Jones she is a shining star.


Ryan
19 Oct 2026

Professional, supportive and highly recommended

I can’t recommend Nayo at Eric Robinson Solicitors highly enough. He supported me through a difficult and stressful employment situation, providing clear, honest and practical advice throughout. He took the time to explain my options, was always approachable and responsive, and helped me feel confident in the decisions I was making. What I particularly appreciated was his balanced and pragmatic approach. He understood what I wanted to achieve and helped me navigate the process calmly and professionally, always keeping my best interests in mind. I’m incredibly grateful for his guidance and support, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone needing employment law advice. Thank you, Nayo!


Natalie
14 Oct 2026

Good service

Good service, clear communication of progress


Jay
12 Oct 2026

Chantelle dealt with the sale of my…

Chantelle dealt with the sale of my late Mothers property. I cannot thank her enough, she was very professional and excellent in her role. I would have no hesitation in recommending her, and Eric Robinson solicitors, and I would definitely use them again.


Mr Neil Willis
12 Oct 2026

Excellent employment legal specialist services

Nayo Kirkpatrick provided excellent support and clear guidance throughout the process, and helped me navigate an unfamiliar situation with speed and professionalism. Highly recommend his services to anyone in need of a top quality employment lawyer.


Anon
07 Oct 2026

I would like to sincerely thank Miya…

I would like to sincerely thank Miya Smith for all her help and support throughout the purchase of our property. From the beginning to completion, Miya was always professional, patient and extremely helpful. She took the time to explain matters clearly and was always willing to answer our questions and guide us through the various stages of the purchase. As English is not our first language, we particularly appreciated her patience in explaining the legal matters and documents to us. She kept us informed throughout the process and dealt with everything carefully and efficiently. We are very grateful for all her hard work and assistance in helping us complete our purchase successfully. It was a pleasure to have Miya act for us, and we would have no hesitation in recommending her to others. Thank you very much, Miya, for all your help and support.


Kelvin UK Ng
23 Oct 2026

Our solicitor Vicki Jones was amazing

Our solicitor Vicki Jones was fantastic, she was always contactable and at every step of thexway explained in simple terms the stage we are at and what we needed to do next. I highly recommend Eric Robinson and especially Vicki Jones she is a shining star.


Ryan
19 Oct 2026

Professional, supportive and highly recommended

I can’t recommend Nayo at Eric Robinson Solicitors highly enough. He supported me through a difficult and stressful employment situation, providing clear, honest and practical advice throughout. He took the time to explain my options, was always approachable and responsive, and helped me feel confident in the decisions I was making. What I particularly appreciated was his balanced and pragmatic approach. He understood what I wanted to achieve and helped me navigate the process calmly and professionally, always keeping my best interests in mind. I’m incredibly grateful for his guidance and support, and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone needing employment law advice. Thank you, Nayo!


Natalie
14 Oct 2026

Good service

Good service, clear communication of progress


Jay
12 Oct 2026

Chantelle dealt with the sale of my…

Chantelle dealt with the sale of my late Mothers property. I cannot thank her enough, she was very professional and excellent in her role. I would have no hesitation in recommending her, and Eric Robinson solicitors, and I would definitely use them again.


Mr Neil Willis
12 Oct 2026

Excellent employment legal specialist services

Nayo Kirkpatrick provided excellent support and clear guidance throughout the process, and helped me navigate an unfamiliar situation with speed and professionalism. Highly recommend his services to anyone in need of a top quality employment lawyer.


Anon
07 Oct 2026

I would like to sincerely thank Miya…

I would like to sincerely thank Miya Smith for all her help and support throughout the purchase of our property. From the beginning to completion, Miya was always professional, patient and extremely helpful. She took the time to explain matters clearly and was always willing to answer our questions and guide us through the various stages of the purchase. As English is not our first language, we particularly appreciated her patience in explaining the legal matters and documents to us. She kept us informed throughout the process and dealt with everything carefully and efficiently. We are very grateful for all her hard work and assistance in helping us complete our purchase successfully. It was a pleasure to have Miya act for us, and we would have no hesitation in recommending her to others. Thank you very much, Miya, for all your help and support.


Kelvin UK Ng
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