The Process
The conveyancing process generally follows a set pattern. We have set the pattern out below to help you through your house purchase or sale from start to finish.
The conveyancing process generally follows a set pattern. We have set the pattern out below to help you through your house purchase or sale from start to finish.
The Seller and Buyer agree a price for the property and agree their terms via the estate agent.
The Buyer applies for their mortgage.
Both the Seller and Buyer instruct a solicitor to act for them.
The estate agent sends the agreed terms of sale to both parties' solicitors.
The Seller's solicitor gathers information from the Seller and verifies their identity.
The Buyer's solicitor gathers information about the Buyer and their source of funds and verifies their identity.
The Seller's solicitor prepares and sends a draft contract to the Buyer's solicitor along with the forms completed by the Seller and title documents from the Land Registry.
The Buyer's solicitor will:
Review the title documents
Check and report to the Buyer on rights of way for access and services and on any covenants or restrictions affecting the property.
Carry out local, water & environmental searches and report on the results to the Buyer.
Review the mortgage offer once it is received and report to the lender and the Buyer on any necessary points.
The Buyer's solicitor raises questions with the Seller's solicitors based on the information they have reviewed and the search results.
The Seller's solicitor gathers replies from the seller and provides any additional information needed to the Buyer's solicitor.
Once the enquiries and searches have been fully dealt with and the Buyer's mortgage offer is received the Buyer's solicitor can then report to the Buyer.
The Seller signs their contract and transfer.
The Buyer's solicitor reports on everything they have received to the Buyer and arranges for them to sign all of the necessary documents.
Exchange and completion dates are discussed.
The Buyer pays their deposit to their solicitor.
Contracts are exchanged - both sides are now legally committed and the completion date is officially set.
The deposit becomes non-refundable if the Buyer pulls out.
The Seller leaves the keys with the agent.
The Buyer's solicitor receives mortgage funds and sends the full balance to the Seller's solicitor, who arranges for the estate agent to hand over the keys once the funds have been received.
The Buyer collects the keys and can move in to their new home.
The timing for this can vary depending on how many people are in the chain.
The Seller's solicitor repays any existing mortgage.
The Seller's signed transfer and other documents are sent to the Buyer's solicitor.
The Buyer's solicitor registers the new ownership with the Land Registry.
