How can I speed up a solicitor when buying a house?

Asked by: Lonny Russel  |  Last update: September 2, 2022
Score: 4.1/5 (38 votes)

One way to speed up solicitors is to buy a property advertised as 'Contract Ready'. This is a sign to show buyers that the vendor is committed to a quick sale. It also means your solicitor will have less work to do.

Why is my solicitor so slow?

Too much work – If your solicitor is acting slow, it could be a case of them having too much work on their plates.

How long do solicitors take when buying?

Conveyancing can take anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks from when the sale is agreed. The time it takes to complete the conveyancing process will depend on whether you're buying or selling and if you're part of a property chain. The conveyancing solicitor you choose is also a vital factor.

How can I speed up my conveyancing UK?

Here's how to speed up conveyancing:
  1. Instruct your conveyancer before you make an offer on a house. ...
  2. Arrange your mortgage as soon as possible. ...
  3. Look for online conveyancing and mortgage services. ...
  4. Instruct your conveyancer to order local searches ASAP. ...
  5. Arrange your survey. ...
  6. Get your paperwork in order.

Can conveyancing be done in 2 weeks?

Searches and surveys returned at this time can also raise issues that need to be resolved. This means the draft contract phase of the conveyancing process can take anywhere from a very straightforward 2 weeks to 10 weeks.

How to SPEED up your Solicitor!

41 related questions found

Can conveyancing be done in 3 weeks?

Searches usually take around 2 weeks, but some take three weeks and others can be up to six weeks if particularly complicated the local authority in question is particularly busy.

Can you sue solicitors for being slow?

Legal firms can be sued if they don't achieve a completion date that they've committed to, especially if the delay is because of their own error.

How quickly should a solicitor reply?

After you have sent your letter to the solicitor, you wait at least 8 weeks to give the solicitor time to respond.

How often should you chase your solicitor when buying a house?

Chase them if necessary! I chase every day/check in ask if any problems that way they keep moving if you don't chase you end up at the bottom of the to do list. I went with chasing every 48 hours but we didn't have a huge pressure on timescale.

Should I wait for mortgage offer before instruct solicitor?

You should instruct a solicitor to start the residential conveyancing process as soon as your offer has been accepted on the house you intend to buy. However, you can decide who your house conveyancing solicitor is as soon as you start your property search.

Can a house sale go through in 6 weeks?

You could say the home-buying process is as long as a piece of string – it could be anything from six weeks (exceptionally quick), to six months (not unusual) or even longer. But it can help you to understand which are the most time-consuming parts of the process, so that it doesn't drag on more than necessary.

How long does it take for solicitors to exchange contracts on the day?

Usually, there's a period of one to three weeks between exchange and completion, but this may be longer depending on the size of your chain. Equally, it's common for the exchange and completion to happen on the same day, so you can get moved in quicker.

What to do if solicitors are taking too long?

If it takes longer, feel free to contact them to ask why but do not assume that it is something that your solicitor is in control of. There is a common misconception that once the enquiries are complete, that everything else is straightforward and will take no time at all.

Can I speak to my buyers solicitor?

The buyers solicitors can't speak to you, but the buyers themselves could turn the pressure up. You could issue a deadline to exchange, instruct the agents and your solicitors to pass it on, after which time you will remarket.

Can you contact your sellers solicitor?

As far as your second question goes, it's not illegal to contact your vendors' solicitors directly but it is frowned upon, as solicitors generally prefer to communicate with each other rather than with each others' clients.

Can I change solicitors halfway through buying a house?

In short, yes, you can change solicitors. If you're unhappy, for whatever reason with the solicitor handling your property purchase or sale, you can switch firms. And the process to change solicitors is quite simple. You just need to find a new solicitor to take over your case.

What can you do if your solicitor is not responsive?

When to complain to the Legal Ombudsman. If you have complained to your solicitor about poor service and you are not satisfied with their response, you can contact the Legal Ombudsman. The Legal Ombudsman deals with poor service, such as: delayed or unclear communication.

How long does it take to buy a house from offer to completion UK?

Buying a property in the UK takes anywhere between three to six months to complete, with a few outliers either side for good measure.

Can a solicitor ignore you?

What Should I Do If I'm Getting No Response? No Solicitor should outright ignore you, no matter how busy they are. While responses may be slightly more delayed than usual, you should still be getting a response from your Conveyancer.

Why are house sales taking so long?

Property sales are taking twice the time to complete - thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. Pre Covid, agents say property sales used to go through in between three or four months. But due to the pandemic this is now taking between five and six months - sometimes longer.

Can conveyancing be fast tracked?

A delay in one area can quickly have a knock-on effect, however, there are some things you can do to help speed up the process and it is entirely possible to fast track the conveyancing process.

Can you fast track local searches?

How do you fast track local authority searches? Unfortunately, not all Local Authorities accept expedition of searches. However, there are still many local authorities that do offer a fast track local authority option for an extra fee.

What is the longest part of conveyancing?

The longest part of a house sale or purchase is the pre-exchange period where the contracts are being reviewed. This period relies on third parties delivering information in order to create the contracts – and this is something that your conveyancer has no control over.

How long is conveyancing taking at the moment?

But, in most cases, the average conveyancing for the purchase of a home will take anywhere between 8 and 12 weeks. It can take less time than this - or a little longer, depending on complexity of the property.