Legal & process
A Guide to UK House Selling Legal Procedures
Selling a UK home legally runs through conveyancing: you instruct a solicitor, complete the TA6/TA10 forms, your solicitor drafts the contract pack, the buyer’s side raises searches and enquiries, you agree a completion date, then exchange contracts (legally binding) and complete (money and keys change hands). It typically takes 8–16 weeks; a cash, chain-free sale is much faster.
What is your property worth?
Get genuine offers from checked & vetted buyers.
- Prepareto avoid delays
- Exchangethe binding point
- 7-28 dayscash, no chain
The stages
Instruct a conveyancer → complete property information forms → draft contract → answer the buyer’s enquiries and provide searches → agree a date → exchange (binding) → complete. ID/anti-money-laundering checks apply throughout.
What causes delays
Local-authority searches, slow enquiry responses, mortgage timing, leasehold management packs, and chains. Preparing your documents early removes much of the friction.
Speeding it up
A proactive solicitor, ready paperwork and a chain-free buyer help; a cash buyer removes the mortgage and chain entirely. See conveyancing and conveyancing explained.
Don’t accept a lowball offer for your home
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Written & reviewed by Lisa Hayes, Founder
Lisa Hayes is the founder of Ready Steady Sell and an independent UK home-selling expert with over a decade helping homeowners weigh cash house buyers, property investors and the wider fast house-sale industry — without pressure or hidden fees. Every guide is reviewed for accuracy under our editorial standards.
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Frequently asked questions
Straight answers, no sales talk
What is the legal process of selling a house?
Instruct a solicitor, complete the property forms, draft the contract, handle searches and enquiries, agree a date, then exchange (binding) and complete. It typically takes 8–16 weeks.
Do I need a solicitor to sell my house?
Yes — conveyancing must be done by a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, who handles the contract, enquiries, exchange and completion.