# Mortgage offer to completion: the UK homebuying timeline

> Mortgages & first homes · Last updated 25 September 2026

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## Quick answer

There is no official figure for the time from mortgage offer to completion. GOV.UK says buying a home takes about 5 months on average overall, and the legal stages — searches, enquiries, exchange of contracts and completion — make up much of it. Exchange makes the deal legally binding; completion is when you get the keys.

## Who should skip this

Skip this page if you need a personal recommendation or a live quote. This is general UK information — confirm today's figures with the official source linked below.

After your offer is accepted and a mortgage in principle becomes a formal offer, the legal work begins. Delays usually come from searches, lease issues, survey problems or chains — not from the lender alone.

## Key facts

- Mortgage offers have an expiry date — check it if your purchase drags
- At exchange of contracts the buyer pays a deposit (often 10%) and the completion date is fixed
- Completion day: funds transfer, keys released, and the property tax deadline starts — 14 days for SDLT, 30 days for LTT and LBTT
- GOV.UK says buying a home takes about 5 months on average

## After the mortgage offer

Your solicitor receives the lender's offer pack and reviews title deeds, leases and restrictions. Local authority, drainage and environmental searches run — how long they take depends on the council and the search provider.

A survey (Level 2 or 3) may reveal defects that renegotiate price or require retention. Your lender's valuation is for the lender, not a full structural survey.

## Exchange and completion

Exchange makes the contract legally binding — the buyer pays a deposit and both sides agree a completion date, which can be the same day or weeks later. Pulling out after exchange is costly.

On completion, your solicitor transfers mortgage funds and your deposit to the seller's solicitor. You pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (or LBTT/LTT in Scotland/Wales) and register ownership at HM Land Registry.

## What slows things down

Property chains: your seller may be waiting on their purchase. Bridging finance sometimes breaks a chain but is expensive.

Leasehold issues: short leases, high ground rent or missing management packs delay mortgage offers. Freehold is usually simpler.

New-build delays: if the property is not built, completion tracks build stage — mortgage offers may need refreshing.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can I move completion date after exchange?

Only by mutual agreement. Unilateral delay can breach contract and forfeit deposit.

### When do I pay Stamp Duty?

File and pay within 14 days of completion in England and Northern Ireland. Your solicitor usually handles this.

### What insurance do I need at exchange?

Buildings insurance is normally required from exchange on the property you are buying. Contents cover starts when you move in.

## Primary source

https://www.gov.uk/buying-a-home

## Related

- [How long from offer to completion?](https://moneyguide.org.uk/answers/how-long-from-mortgage-offer-to-completion/)
- [First-time buyer step-by-step](https://moneyguide.org.uk/mortgages/first-time-buyer-step-by-step/)
- [Stamp Duty calculator](https://moneyguide.org.uk/tools/stamp-duty-calculator/)
- [What is conveyancing?](https://moneyguide.org.uk/answers/what-is-conveyancing/)
- [How long conveyancing takes](https://moneyguide.org.uk/moving-home/how-long-does-conveyancing-take/)
- [Moving home guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk/moving-home/)

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Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.