Why Delays Are So Common

The average property transaction in England and Wales takes significantly longer than most sellers expect. Much of this time is spent waiting — for documents, for responses to enquiries, for searches to come back. The good news is that many of the most common causes of delay can be addressed before marketing begins.

Missing or Incomplete Documentation

The single most common cause of delay is missing documentation. Solicitors raise enquiries when they can't find evidence of planning permissions, building regulations certificates, or guarantees for work carried out at the property. Each enquiry adds days or weeks to the process. The solution is to gather documentation before marketing begins — not after an offer is accepted.

• Building regulations certificates for extensions, conversions, or structural work
• Planning permissions for alterations that required consent
• FENSA or CERTASS certificates for replacement windows or doors
• Guarantees and warranties for damp-proofing, roofing, or structural work
• EPC — a legal requirement before marketing

Incomplete Property Information Forms

The TA6 Property Information Form and TA10 Fixtures & Fittings Form are completed by the seller and submitted to the buyer's solicitor. Incomplete or inaccurate answers generate enquiries. Taking time to complete these forms carefully — and understanding what each question is asking — reduces the risk of follow-up questions that slow the process down.

Leasehold Management Pack Delays

For leasehold properties, the management pack is requested from the freeholder or managing agent and can take weeks to arrive. This is one of the most common causes of extended timelines in leasehold transactions. Requesting the management pack as early as possible — ideally before or immediately after accepting an offer — can save significant time.

Local Authority Search Delays

Local authority searches are ordered by the buyer's solicitor and can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on the local authority. Some sellers choose to commission searches in advance to remove this variable from the timeline. Search insurance is available to protect against the risk of results changing between the time a search is ordered and completion.

Mortgage and Finance Issues

Delays on the buyer's side — particularly around mortgage offers and valuations — are outside the seller's control. However, sellers can reduce the overall risk of delay by being well-prepared on their own side, so that when the buyer's finance is in place, the legal process can move quickly.

What Sellers Can Do

The most effective thing a seller can do to reduce delay is to prepare before marketing begins. This means gathering documentation, completing property information forms, and identifying any potential issues early — so they can be addressed before a buyer is found, rather than after.