What actually drives conveyancing timelines, and why the same transaction can take very different amounts of time.
Conveyancing timelines are often quoted as "eight to twelve weeks," and that's a reasonable rule of thumb for a straightforward purchase — but the real answer depends heavily on your specific chain, lender, and local authority, and can be considerably faster or slower.
No chain (for example buying from a new-build developer or a probate sale with no onward purchase), a mortgage offer already in place, a local authority with fast search turnaround, and both sides' solicitors responding to enquiries promptly.
A long chain where every link has to be ready simultaneously, slow search turnaround from some local authorities, leasehold properties (more information to gather from the management company), and delays getting a mortgage offer confirmed.
A quote that separates legal fee, VAT, and disbursements doesn't just make costs clearer — it also makes it easier to see exactly which searches and checks are included, so you know what your conveyancer is actually waiting on if things take longer than expected.
More: all guides