Guideline timescales for conveyancing are often put at 8-12 weeks. In reality however, it’s difficult to be precise about how long it will take to complete the process of buying and selling your house in Wales. Each transaction is different and can be complicated by a range of factors, often outside your control. As we explain below however there are several ways you can push the transaction forward, often with the support of a local, experienced solicitor. A good conveyancer will proactively manage your transaction and any related sales or purchases, anticipating obstacles ahead of time and being responsive to all parties involved so that unnecessary delays are reduced.
At Gamlins LLP we have offices across North Wales, so you’ll be able to find a solicitor that’s local to you and knows the area your property is situated in. Our team of conveyancing specialists is one of the largest in the area. Our clients benefit from our extensive local knowledge, our resources and our expertise. We manage your sale and purchase efficiently, reducing delays and ensuring your legal position and ownership of the property is fully protected.
Why does conveyancing take so long?
You can find out what a typical transaction looks like on our conveyancing page. Multiple factors contribute to the length of time it takes to complete a house sale or purchase. Some of these variables are within your control, but many are outside it. This is true whether your transaction is routine or complex. Issues that can slow down conveyancing include:
- Transactions that are part of a chain of connected purchases and sales where a problem in one transaction could affect the entire chain
- Delayed response from mortgage lenders and addition of onerous mortgage conditions that must be satisfied before exchange of contracts
- Waiting for results of local authority search results on the property you are purchasing can delay the process considerably (search results can sometimes take more than a month)
- Unusual legal issues arising that may require detailed research and negotiation to resolve. Leasehold property can sometimes require additional legal expertise to ensure title to the property is correctly transferred
- If the property forms part of an estate for probate purposes this may result in added delay
- Where a property is being bought or sold because of divorce, completion may be delayed until a financial settlement is agreed between the parties
Confronting conveyancing delays – what you can do
Despite the factors we have listed above there are ways you can improve the chances of your conveyancing transaction completing on time, with minimum delay and disruption. Here are some tips to consider:
- If you are getting a mortgage, you should ensure you provide all information to the lender speedily and deal with any queries as soon as they are raised. You will be unable to exchange contracts until you have a firm mortgage offer. Your lender will usually insist that you insure the property you are purchasing from the date you exchange contracts. Investigate insurance companies and policies early on so that you have your insurance ready to activate on exchange
- Purchasers should organise surveys as soon as their offer is accepted. Structural issues and other matters uncovered by the survey may affect your decision to proceed or may require a renegotiation of the agreed sale price. Sellers should deal with any survey points as soon as possible to reduce delays
- Engage an experienced solicitor early on, ideally one with local knowledge who will be familiar with planning issues and other matters. Solicitors must carry out detailed identity checks to comply with anti-money laundering and other regulations. These take time and the sooner these have been carried out the sooner your solicitor can begin to act for you
- Look for solicitors like Gamlins Solicitors LLP who have the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation. This should provide confidence that your solicitor will have the expertise to deal effectively with any complications that arise in your transaction
- If you are obtaining any part of the purchase monies from a family member or other source you should inform your solicitor when you first instruct them. Additional checks must be made into the source of such funds and if not carried out early in the process compliance with these obligations can result in delays
- You can speed up the local authority search results by paying a premium to a search company. In some cases this may be advisable if the local authority is likely to be particularly slow in responding to your search enquiry
- Always provide information requested from the other party to the transaction speedily and in as much detail as you can. In particular, complete the Sellers Property Information Form and Fixtures and Fittings Forms promptly
Contact Us
Gamlins Solicitors LLP has a network of offices across North Wales, and we can arrange an in-person appointment at the office that’s most convenient for you or a remote appointment if you prefer. please call us on 01492 860420 or contact the team online
