Ways to sell

The Conveyancing Process for Selling a House

4 min read

Confused about the conveyancing process for selling a house? We’re here to break down the different stages of conveyancing for selling a house.

  • Kavi Chauhan Deputy Head of Conveyancing & Licensed Conveyancer
    Kavi Chauhan

    Deputy Head of Conveyancing & Licensed Conveyancer.

    Published October 25th 2024

homeowner looking at a guide to conveyancing getting ready to sell their house

The conveyancing process for selling a house

For your sale, a conveyancer will complete tasks such as checking your ID and property details, they'll send you the right paperwork and questionnaires to fill in for your buyers, draw up the draft contracts as well as arrange a date for the exchange of contracts and completion with your buyers’ solicitors.

In this article:

Watch our selling a house video to get a better understanding of all the conveyancing steps involved when selling a house and read our guide below, which explains everything you'll need to know about the conveyancing process when selling property.

Watch our video to find out how to sell your home

Duration: 1 minute 46 seconds

The conveyancing stages when selling a house

The process of selling your house is different to when you’re buying. Read the steps below to understand the process of selling a house.

Step 1 – Instruct your conveyancer

When it comes to selling your house, you’ll most likely need a conveyancer to act on your behalf to complete the legal work, once an offer has been made. Choosing and instructing a conveyancer as early on in the selling process as possible means that you can start the process as soon as you have found a buyer.

Get an instant conveyancing quote for your sale

Or learn more about the conveyancing process of selling a house below.

Step 2 – Your conveyancer will complete an ID verification and check your property details

ID Check: For your ID check, your conveyancer they will have to see your primary ID, such as a passport or driving licence as well as proof of residence in the form of a bank statement or utility bill.

Property details

Calculate outstanding monies: If you have a mortgage (or other loan) secured on the house you are selling, your conveyancer will request a redemption figure from your lender to find out how much is outstanding, this figure will then be paid out of your sale proceeds on completion.

Leasehold information: If the property you are selling is a leasehold, they will contact your landlord / management company to find out more details about how the lease works and whether there are any works due to be done or payments outstanding etc.

Step 3 – Request Title of Deeds

Your conveyancer will then need to obtain a copy of the title and send a draft contract to the buyer's conveyancer.

If you bought or remortgaged the house you are selling, in the last 25 years, it's likely that the property is registered at the Land Registry, showing you as owner, they should also have a plan of the property and any additional documents they hold for the property.

If no transactions have taken place in the last 25 years, then the property could be unregistered and you should have the title deeds to the property. You may hold these or your lender may have them if you still have a mortgage, either way your conveyancer will need these to sell the property.

Step 4 – Complete a questionnaires for your buyers

Before you exchange contracts, you’ll need to complete and return detailed questionnaires for your buyers, about the property, and what you intend to include with the sale. This can include a Property Information form which has specific details about the property, its boundaries, any alterations to the property etc. and a Fixtures, Fittings and Contents form to say what you will be taking and leaving behind.

These will then all be sent to the buyer's conveyancers, along with any additional documents you have provided, such as indemnity insurance policies.

Your buyers may then instruct searches and arrange for a survey to be carried out on the property.

What is Indemnity Insurance When Buying a House?

When purchasing a property, you may encounter the term indemnity insurance, especially if there are certain legal or structural issues with the property’s history or paperwork. Indemnity insurance is a one-time insurance policy designed to protect homeowners and buyers from potential future claims or legal risks related to the property, such as missing building regulation certificates, restrictive covenants, or issues with planning permissions. If these concerns were ever to become an issue, an indemnity policy would cover the legal costs associated with resolving them, providing peace of mind for both buyers and sellers. Find out more in our guide to indemnity insurance when buying or selling a house.

For both buyers and sellers, indemnity insurance can provide a straightforward solution, allowing the property sale to proceed smoothly despite these concerns. At My Home Move Conveyancing, our team will help identify if an indemnity policy is necessary and guide you through the process, ensuring you feel confident every step of the way.

Step 5 – Exchange of contracts

When all the buyers enquiries are answered, you will need to agree a completion date with your buyer and exchange contracts. Before you exchange contracts, you will need carefully read the contract, sign it, and return it to your conveyancer. You will also have to sign the transfer document, which is a legal document that both seller and buyer need to sign or transfer the ownership of the property. This must be signed in the presence of an independent witness over the age of 18 years and the original should be sent back to your conveyancer. Once the contracts have been exchanged, you are legally obliged to complete on the date agreed in the contract.

Step 6 – Completion

On the day of completion, the buyer’s conveyancers will transfer the money to purchase your property to your conveyancer by telegraphic transfer. As soon as this has been received, your conveyancer will then use this to pay off any outstanding balances such as, the existing mortgage on the property, the estate agents' fees or leasehold charges and then transfer legal ownership.

Step 7 – Post-completion

Once you have completed on your house sale, your conveyancer will then send the signed transfer to the buyer’s solicitors so that they can register the transfer of ownership with the Land Registry.

You must remember to keep paying the mortgage and home insurance until after completion.

You may also want to set up a temporary postal redirection service, so your mail gets delivered to your new address.

Change of address?

Manage a wide range of home move services in just a few clicks with Just Move In.

Your conveyancer will then account for their fees, estate agent or mortgage costs and pay any balance to you by bank transfer. If you’re wondering what the fees associated with a sale are, you can read all about the cost of selling a house.

If you’re still not sure where to start, our top ten tips to prepare your home for the market may help you when selling your house.

FAQs for selling a house conveyancing

Selling a house? Find answers to our frequently-asked questions about the conveyancing process for sellers below:

What documents will I need for my house sale?

Initially you will need to provide proof of ID, such as a passport or driving licence and proof of residence in the form of a bank statement/utility bill. You will also need a redemption statement from your mortgage provider to find out the outstanding amount.

Do I need an energy performance certificate (EPC)

Energy performance certificates (EPCs) set out your property’s energy efficiency rating. It’s a legal requirement to make it available within seven days of putting your house on the market, it’s a good idea to get it done as early as possible. However, as EPCs are valid for 10 years, if you’ve owned the property for less than a decade, you may be able to use the existing EPC rather than having to pay for a new one.

Should I sell my house before buying another?

This method can be less stressful and put you in a strong position as a buyer. However, you can make an offer on a property even if yours is on the market.

Conveyancing process tips

Whether you’re buying or selling, follow these handy tips to ensure a smooth conveyancing process.

Changing your details

Once you’ve completed, make sure you promptly update your address with relevant providers and suppliers, including things like your bank account and driving licence. You can use the Royal Mail’s redirection service to ensure your post reaches you at your new address.

For more information on the process of selling a house, take a look at our other handy articles how long it takes to sell a house and the cost of selling a house.

Moving out

You should take meter readings and let your utility companies know that you’re moving out, as this will help you to pay the correct final bills. For further advice on moving out, check out our handy moving house checklist.

Dropping off your keys

Make sure you drop off your keys with your estate agents no later than 2pm on completion day, so your buyers can get in as soon as it has been completed.

Using the same conveyancer for buying and selling

By using the same conveyancer, you reduce the number of parties involved. The same systems, processes and timetables will be applied, likely saving time along the way.

Why choose us

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  • Tailored to you

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    The conveyancing firms we work with put their customers first, and are rated excellently, so rest assured you’ll only ever receive the best service.

  • Your time matters to us

    Using the right combination of tech and people, at the right points in your journey, helps to fast track the process and keep you in control.

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