If you’re wondering how long to sell a house in London, the honest answer is that there isn’t one reliable figure for every home. The time from instructing an agent to completion depends on your property, its price, whether it’s freehold or leasehold, your buyer’s circumstances and how many people are in the chain.
As a broad planning guide, allow several months from going on the market to completion. A straightforward freehold sale with a proceedable buyer may move faster; a leasehold flat or a long chain can take considerably longer. These are working expectations, not guarantees.
The stages below show where the time goes, and what you can do to help keep things moving.
At A Glance
| Stage | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Instructing an agent and getting ready | Around one to three weeks, depending on preparation |
| Marketing and finding a buyer | No fixed period; it may take weeks or longer |
| Offer accepted to completion | Often a few months; chains and leasehold issues can extend this |
| Overall | Plan for several months, with extra time if complications arise |
These ranges are intended to help you plan, not predict the date your sale will complete. For more detail on the legal part of the process, see the HomeOwners Alliance guide to conveyancing timescales.
Before You Go Live
Once you choose an agent, there’s usually some preparation before your home appears online. Your agent will discuss the asking price and marketing plan, arrange photography and prepare the listing details. You’ll also need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) if you don’t have a valid one.
This stage might take a week or two, but it can take longer if paperwork is missing, access for photography is difficult or the property needs preparation. If you’re still considering your options, you can arrange a free valuation with Lyss Homes and talk through a suitable plan before committing.
The First Two Weeks
The first two weeks on the market are usually your strongest window for catching the attention of buyers actively searching for a home like yours. Your listing is new, and your agent can follow up with people who have already registered their interest.
That doesn’t mean a sale is guaranteed in the first fortnight. The response will depend on the property, the price, the presentation and current buyer demand. But a slow start is useful information: review the viewing feedback and online interest with your agent rather than waiting too long to discuss what might need to change.
Being flexible about viewing times and access can help more buyers see the property while interest is fresh. An agent who responds promptly and keeps you updated can also make it easier to act on feedback quickly.
Finding And Accepting An Offer
When an offer comes in, consider more than the amount. Ask about the buyer’s position: do they have a mortgage agreement in principle, do they need to sell another property, and are they ready to instruct a solicitor?
A higher offer isn’t always the offer most likely to reach completion. A buyer who is well prepared and has a short or no chain may offer more certainty. Your agent can help you compare the options and negotiate on your behalf.
Mortgage And Survey
After an offer is agreed, the buyer will progress their mortgage application. Their lender may arrange a valuation to check the property is suitable security for the loan. The buyer may also commission their own survey, which is separate from the lender’s valuation.
The timing can vary with the buyer’s finances, the lender’s checks and the surveyor’s availability. A down-valuation may lead the buyer to ask for a lower price or find extra funds. Survey findings can prompt further inspections or negotiations, particularly if the survey identifies repair work or questions about the property.
A buyer’s circumstances can change, too. If a mortgage application is delayed or the buyer decides they can no longer proceed, the sale may be held up or fall through.
Searches And Legal Enquiries
While the mortgage and survey are progressing, the solicitors deal with the contract and legal checks. The buyer’s solicitor will review the title and the information you provide, order searches and raise enquiries. The time this takes can depend on the local authority, the search provider, the property and how quickly everyone responds.
Questions might relate to boundaries, alterations, planning permission, building regulations, access rights or restrictive covenants. If the paperwork is clear and replies arrive promptly, this part can move more smoothly. If documents are missing or an answer needs to be checked, it may take longer.
Leasehold Can Take Longer
Selling a leasehold flat often involves extra checks. The buyer’s solicitor will want information about the lease, service charges, ground rent, building insurance, planned works and the management company.
The seller usually needs to provide a management pack, sometimes called an LPE1 pack. Getting this from a freeholder or managing agent can take time, and enquiries may follow once the buyer’s solicitor has reviewed it. A short lease or unclear information about charges can raise additional questions for the buyer and their lender.
If you own a leasehold home, ask early what documents will be needed and how to request the pack. Starting this before an offer is accepted can help avoid waiting until the legal process is already under way.
Exchange And Completion
Exchange happens when both sides’ solicitors are satisfied that the legal work and funding are ready, and the whole chain is prepared to proceed. At this point the contracts become binding and a completion date is agreed.
Completion is the day the money is transferred, the sale finishes and the keys are released. It often follows exchange after an agreed interval, but the timing depends on what works for everyone involved in the chain.
Until exchange, the buyer or seller may still withdraw. That’s why a sale can feel as though it’s progressing and then stall while a mortgage, survey issue, enquiry or linked purchase is resolved.
Where Sales Stall
Common causes of delay or a sale falling through include:
- Down-valuations: the lender values the property below the agreed price.
- Survey findings: the buyer seeks further advice or wants to renegotiate.
- Changing circumstances: the buyer’s finances or plans change.
- A chain collapsing: another transaction in the chain falls through.
- Leasehold paperwork: management packs or answers to service-charge and lease queries arrive slowly.
- Unanswered enquiries: solicitors are waiting for documents or clear replies.
Renegotiation after a survey doesn’t have to end the sale. Your agent can help you understand the buyer’s concerns, discuss the options and keep communication constructive.
Sometimes, what looks like a slow sale starts earlier: with a price that isn’t aligned with buyer expectations. If viewings are limited or feedback repeatedly points to value, it’s worth having an honest conversation about the asking price. A realistic price from the start can help you make the most of that early marketing window.
What Can You Control?
You can’t control a lender’s workload, a buyer’s survey or the speed of every search. But a few practical steps can reduce avoidable delays:
- Price carefully from day one. Ask your agent to explain the local evidence behind their recommendation.
- Gather paperwork early. This may include title documents, your EPC, guarantees, boiler service records, and planning and building regulations certificates for works.
- If leasehold, prepare lease documents. Check how to order the management pack and gather details of service charges and ground rent.
- Respond promptly. Quick answers and documents help your solicitor deal with enquiries.
- Make viewings straightforward. Flexible access can help more interested buyers visit.
- Keep communication open. Tell your agent if your plans or preferred dates change.
Get A Clearer Picture
Your timeline will be shaped by the details of your home and the position of your buyer. Lyss Homes provides hands-on service, clear advice and updates every step of the way, so you know what’s happening and what needs attention.
If you’re asking, “How long will it take to sell my house?”, we’re here to help you think it through. Whether you’re ready to list or just weighing it up, book a free valuation for an honest view of your home’s likely timeline, with no pressure to proceed.