Your offer has been accepted, and the first thing everyone wants to know is when they will actually move. The honest answer to how long does it take to move house UK buyers and sellers ask is: usually several months, and longer in a chain. This guide sets out a realistic timeline from accepted offer to moving day, explains what tends to slow things down and shows when to book your removal company.
This guide covers buying and selling in England and Wales. The process in Scotland is different and is often quicker.
The Short Answer
According to TwentyCi’s property report for early 2026, the average time from agreeing a sale to exchanging contracts was almost four and a half months, and a little longer in London and the East. Completion usually follows exchange within days or weeks. Some moves are faster, especially for cash buyers or first-time buyers with no chain, but planning for several months avoids disappointment.
A Typical UK House Move Timeline
| Stage | What Happens | Typical Length |
| Offer accepted | Solicitors instructed, memorandum of sale issued | First week or two |
| Mortgage and survey | Valuation, mortgage offer, building survey | Several weeks |
| Searches and enquiries | Local authority searches, questions to the seller | Several weeks |
| Exchange of contracts | Sale becomes binding, completion date fixed | Often months after the offer |
| Completion | Money moves, keys released, moving day | Often one to four weeks after exchange |
These stages often overlap, and the timings vary widely between transactions. Use them as a guide rather than a promise.
What Slows a House Move Down?
- A long chain. Every buyer and seller has to be ready before anyone can exchange.
- Slow searches. Some councils take longer than others to return local authority searches.
- Leasehold properties. Flats need information from the freeholder or managing agent, which can add weeks.
- Survey problems. Issues found in a survey can lead to renegotiation.
- Mortgage delays. Missing paperwork or a down valuation can hold things up.
- Missing documents. Planning permissions, building regulations certificates and guarantees all take time to find.
How to Speed Things Up
You cannot control the whole chain, but you can make sure you are never the reason for a delay:
- Instruct a solicitor or conveyancer early, ideally before your offer is accepted.
- Have your mortgage agreement in principle ready.
- Gather documents now, including ID, guarantees and certificates for any work done on the home.
- Reply to your solicitor quickly and chase politely each week.
- Stay in touch with your estate agent about how the rest of the chain is progressing.
Should You Sell Before You Buy?
Selling first puts you in a stronger position, because sellers often prefer buyers who have already sold. It can also mean a gap between homes, which is where short-term rental or storage can help. Buying first is possible but carries the risk of owning two homes for a while. Whichever you choose, tell your solicitor and removal company early, so the plan fits your dates.
Where Your Removal Company Fits In
Removals come at the very end of the process, but they should be planned much earlier. Contact removal companies once your offer is accepted, arrange a survey and get a written quote. Then confirm the date as soon as contracts are exchanged, because the gap before completion can be short.
Our guide on when to book removals explains how exchange and completion affect your booking.
Use the Waiting Time Well
The months before exchange are a good time to declutter and start packing items you will not need, such as books, out-of-season clothes and the contents of the loft. Leave everyday items until the final week or two.
Follow our packing timeline for moving house to spread the work over several weeks.
If You Are Renting
Renters usually move much faster, often within a few weeks of finding a property, because there is no conveyancing or chain. The main factors are the notice period on your current tenancy and the start date of the new one. Book your removal as soon as both dates are confirmed.
Moving Day Itself
On completion day, keys are released once the money has reached the seller’s solicitor, which often happens around the middle of the day. Most homes can be loaded and moved within the day, depending on size and distance.
Read what happens on completion day to see how the day usually unfolds.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long does it take to move house in the UK?
Usually several months from accepted offer to completion. Early 2026 data put the average time to exchange at almost four and a half months.
2. How long between exchange and completion?
Often one to four weeks, but it can be the same day or longer, depending on what is agreed.
3. Can I move house faster without a chain?
Usually, yes. Cash buyers and chain-free sales tend to move more quickly.
4. When should I book a removal company?
Arrange a survey once your offer is accepted, then confirm the date as soon as contracts are exchanged.
5. Is moving house quicker in Scotland?
The process is different in Scotland and is often quicker. Check timings with a Scottish solicitor.
Plan Your Move With Shaheen Express Removals
Shaheen Express Removals has been helping buyers, sellers and tenants across St Albans, Hertfordshire, Luton and London move for more than 20 years. We know how often completion dates change, and we offer packing and secure storage when dates do not line up. Our fully insured, DBS-checked team is rated 5.0 from 444 Google reviews. Find out more about our house removals service and book a survey early. Call +44 7903 494502 or email shaheenexpressremovals@gmail.com to talk through your move.