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Buying process

From offer to completion in plain English — the UK buying timeline and what to do at each step.

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Broc the badger following the UK house-buying timeline from offer to completion
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The UK House Buying Process: Full Timeline

Buying a house in England typically takes around 8–12 weeks from offer accepted to completion, though chains and surveys can stretch it. The stages: offer accepted → solicitor instructed → searches and survey → mortgage offer → exchange (the binding moment) → completion. Here's the full timeline.

Updated 14 Jun 20267 min read
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Broc the badger pausing and stepping back from an offer on a UK house
Buying process

Can You Back Out of an Offer on a House?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you can back out of a house offer any time before exchange of contracts, with no legal penalty — though you may lose money spent on surveys, searches and legal fees. After exchange, withdrawing means losing your deposit and possibly more.

Updated 6 min read
Broc the badger celebrating an accepted offer and looking ahead to the next steps
Buying process

Offer Accepted — What Happens Next?

Once your offer is accepted, the property is marked "sold subject to contract" and the legal and financial work begins: instruct a solicitor, apply for your mortgage, book a survey, and wait on searches. Nothing is binding until exchange, so the goal now is to move quickly and keep the chain calm.

Updated 6 min read