How Long Does It Take to Sell a House UK?
Selling a house in the UK typically takes around 5 to 7 months from listing to completion. However, this depends on the property, the chain, and how quickly buyers, solicitors, and lenders move. The process is rarely fast, but understanding the stages and how to avoid delays can help you take control and sell sooner.
Key Takeaways:
- Average sale time is around 5–7 months from listing to completion.
- Offer to completion usually takes 8–12 weeks, covering legal checks, surveys, and final contracts.
- Speeding things up means pricing competitively, staying proactive, and considering faster options like cash buyers.
How Long on Average Does It Take to Sell a House in the UK?
On average, it takes around 5 to 7 months to sell a house in the UK from first listing to final completion. This includes the time to secure an offer and the legal process that follows.
| Stage | Typical Timeframe | What’s Happening |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation and Valuation | 1–2 weeks | Instruct estate agent, prepare photos, get Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), set asking price. |
| Marketing and Viewings | 3–6 weeks | Property listed online, viewings arranged, negotiations begin. |
| Offer Accepted & Mortgage Applied | 1–2 weeks | Buyer submits mortgage application, conveyancers instructed by both sides. |
| Conveyancing and Property Searches | 4–8 weeks | Legal work begins: contract drafting, anti-money laundering checks, local authority searches. |
| Survey & Mortgage Valuation | 1–2 weeks (within above) | Buyer’s mortgage lender conducts valuation; buyer may commission full survey. |
| Exchange of Contracts | 1–2 weeks after checks | Final contracts agreed and signed, deposit paid, completion date confirmed. |
| Completion | 1–2 weeks | Final payment sent, keys handed over, legal ownership changes. |
Factors Influencing the Average Time
-
Market conditions: Hot markets move faster, cold markets slow things down.
-
Property type and location: Popular areas and homes in good condition sell quicker.
-
Buyer position: Chain-free and cash buyers speed up the process.
-
Solicitor and lender speed: Delays in searches, contracts, or mortgage approvals add weeks.
-
Property chain: The longer the chain, the greater the risk of delays.
How Long Does It Take to Sell a House Once Offer Accepted?
Once an offer is accepted on a house in the UK, it typically takes around 8 to 12 weeks to complete the sale. During this time, legal conveyancing is carried out, property searches are completed, the buyer's mortgage is finalised, and contracts are exchanged before completion. Delays can happen due to slow paperwork, issues in the property chain, or complications from surveys and mortgage approvals, but a well-prepared seller and buyer can help keep the process on track.
Stages of Selling a House and Timeframes
1) Listing to Offer
On average, it takes 4 to 8 weeks from listing your home to receiving an offer. The speed depends on your asking price, how well the property is presented, local demand, and overall market conditions. Well-priced homes in desirable areas typically move faster, while overpriced or poorly presented properties can sit on the market longer.
2) Offer to Exchange
Once an offer is accepted, expect around 8 to 12 weeks to reach exchange of contracts. This phase includes essential steps like conveyancing, local authority searches, finalising the buyer’s mortgage, and resolving any enquiries. Delays at this stage often come from slow responses, incomplete paperwork, or issues uncovered in surveys.
3) Exchange to Completion
This final stage usually takes anywhere from the same day up to 4 weeks, depending on the chain situation and how quickly final payments and legal confirmations are processed. Chain-free sales tend to complete faster, while complex chains or last-minute financing issues can extend this window.
What Can Slow Down a House Sale?
Selling a house often takes longer than expected because of a few predictable issues:
-
Property chains: If your buyer is waiting to sell their own property, your sale depends on the whole chain moving smoothly. Any collapse delays everything.
-
Slow conveyancing and solicitors: Delays from either side’s solicitor can add weeks. Poor communication is one of the biggest culprits.
According to Reallymoving.com, the average conveyancing process in the UK currently takes around 12 to 16 weeks, with property chains and slow searches being the biggest contributors to delays.
-
Mortgage delays or valuation problems: If a lender down-values the property or takes time approving the mortgage, it stalls progress.
-
Local authority searches: Searches can take anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks depending on the local council’s workload, often causing unexpected delays.
- Survey issues and renegotiations: Unfavourable survey results can lead to price renegotiations or repair demands, slowing the sale.
Related Read: What do surveyors check when they value a house?
Sell Faster With Housebuyers4u
Tired of long waits and delays? Housebuyers4u offers a quick and reliable alternative to the open market. With no chains or estate agent fees, you can sell your home fast and on your terms.
Benefits of selling with Housebuyers4u:
-
No chain and no estate agent fees
-
Flexible completion dates to suit your schedule
-
Guaranteed cash offer with no hidden costs
-
We buy any property, in any condition, nationwide
If you’re looking for speed, certainty, and a hassle-free sale, get your free cash offer today.
