This guide walks you through the process of buying property in London, step by step — from the moment your offer is accepted to the day you receive the keys. If you are an international buyer unfamiliar with English property law, this is the practical overview you need before entering a transaction.
For a broader view of the entire buying journey — including choosing an area, understanding costs, and working with professionals — see our main guide for international buyers.
Making an Offer and Instructing Solicitors
Once your offer is accepted, the seller’s estate agent sends a document called the memorandum of sale to both parties’ solicitors. This document records the agreed price, the expected completion timeline, and the contact details of all professionals involved.
Both the buyer and the seller then formally instruct their own solicitors. Each solicitor is legally required to act exclusively in the interest of their client. You will need to sign engagement forms and provide identification documents as part of anti-money laundering checks — a standard requirement for all property transactions in the UK.
At this stage, you should also confirm your funding arrangements. If you are purchasing with a mortgage, your lender will need to instruct a solicitor as well (often the same firm acting for you, but not always).
The Seller’s Information Pack
The seller’s solicitor prepares a pack of documents about the property, sometimes referred to as the property information pack. This typically includes the title documents, details of any service charges or ground rent (for leasehold properties), management company information, planning history, and any known issues affecting the property.
This pack forms the starting point for your solicitor’s investigation into the property.
Conveyancing: Legal Searches and Due Diligence
Your solicitor carries out a process known as conveyancing — the legal work required to transfer ownership of a property from one party to another. This includes a series of searches and enquiries designed to identify any issues that could affect your ownership or the value of the property.
The main searches include:
- Local authority search — checks for planning applications, building control issues, road schemes, and conservation area designations
- Environmental search — checks for contamination risk, flood risk, and subsidence
- Water and drainage search — confirms connections to mains water and sewerage
- Land Registry search — verifies the seller’s title, confirms there are no undisclosed charges or restrictions registered against the property
For leasehold properties, the solicitor will also review the lease terms in detail — including the remaining lease length, ground rent provisions, service charge history, and any restrictions on use or subletting. If you are buying a leasehold flat, see our guide to leasehold in London for a full explanation of what to look for.
If any issues are found — for example, outstanding charges, restrictive covenants, or defects in the lease — your solicitor will raise these with the seller’s solicitor and seek resolution before you proceed.
The Contract of Sale
The seller’s solicitor prepares a draft contract using the standard form issued by the Law Society of England and Wales. This contract sets out the terms of the sale: the parties, the property, the price, and the conditions.
Your solicitor reviews the draft contract, raises any necessary amendments, and negotiates the terms on your behalf. Once both sides are satisfied, the contract is approved and sent to you for signature.
It is important to understand that signing the contract does not make it binding. The contract only becomes legally binding at the point of exchange.
Exchange of Contracts
Exchange is the moment the transaction becomes legally committed. Before exchange, either party can withdraw without penalty. After exchange, both the buyer and the seller are contractually bound to complete the transaction.
At the point of exchange:
- You pay a deposit — typically 10% of the purchase price — to your solicitor, who holds it on behalf of the seller
- A completion date is agreed and written into the contract
- The signed contracts are formally exchanged between the solicitors
From this point, if you fail to complete, you risk losing your deposit and may face a claim for damages. The same applies to the seller — withdrawal after exchange carries serious financial consequences.
The time between exchange and completion is usually 10 days to two weeks, although in some cases exchange and completion happen on the same day.
Completion
On the day of completion, the remaining balance of the purchase price — together with your solicitor’s fees and any applicable taxes — must be transferred to your solicitor’s client account. Your solicitor then sends the funds to the seller’s solicitor.
Once the funds are received and confirmed, the transaction is complete. The seller’s solicitor releases the keys, and the property is yours.
Your solicitor handles the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on your behalf and submits the return to HMRC within the required deadline. For a detailed breakdown of all costs involved, see our guide to buying costs.
Registration at the Land Registry
After completion, your solicitor registers the transfer of ownership with HM Land Registry. This process is now handled electronically and is usually completed within a few weeks, although processing times can vary.
Once registration is confirmed, your solicitor will send you the official title document showing you as the registered owner of the property.
Typical Timeline
Every transaction is different, but as a general guide:
- Offer accepted to exchange: typically 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the complexity of the legal work and the responsiveness of both parties
- Exchange to completion: typically 10 days to 2 weeks
- Land Registry registration: a few weeks after completion
Delays are common and can arise from slow search results, mortgage conditions, chain complications, or issues raised during due diligence. An experienced solicitor and a well-prepared buyer can significantly reduce the risk of unnecessary delays.
How We Can Help
If you would like to be guided through every stage of the transaction, our private buying agent service is designed to support international buyers from search to completion. For a transparent overview of our fees, see our fees and services page.
For a complete overview of the buying journey — from choosing a neighbourhood to understanding the market — see our main guide for international buyers.
