Supporting NCW25: The common 'pinch-points' in Conveyancing

18 Mar 2025

The Conveyancing process — whether for buying, selling or remortgaging — includes lots of different third-party suppliers who must work together and in tandem to complete a property transaction. Some common 'pinch-points' may cause delays or complications during the process, and often many of these pinch-points are outside the control of your Conveyancer – meaning relying on a third party to provide a solution or specific documents.

Here are some common examples of pinch-points that may come up during the whole Conveyancing process, and includes areas from all third parties involved in the process:

1. Mortgage and Finance Issues

• Mortgage Approval delays – Buyers may experience delays in receiving their mortgage offer from their chosen Lender.
• Valuation issues – If a Lender’s mortgage valuation is lower than the agreed price, renegotiations or additional deposits may be needed.
• Source of Funds checks – Solicitors and Lenders require proof of funds for anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, which can delay proceedings if not promptly provided by the client.

2. Property Searches and Survey Results

• Local Authority Searches – These can take several weeks, depending on the council’s efficiency and wait times in the local area of the property being purchased.
• Environmental or drainage searches – Unexpected issues that may come to light in the search report (e.g., flood risks, contamination) may need further investigation.
• Survey concerns – Structural defects, damp, or subsidence could lead to renegotiations or extra legal steps.

3. Chain Dependencies

• Long property chains – If one sale or purchase in the chain falls through, it can affect multiple transactions and put the chain in jeopardy, or at a standstill.
• Gazumping or gazundering – A Seller accepting a higher offer (gazumping) or a Buyer reducing their offer last minute (gazundering) can cause last-minute disruptions.

4. Leasehold & Title Issues

• Leasehold complexities – Waiting for information on ground rent, and service charges from the Leaseholder can often cause delays. There can often be issues with lease lengths.
• Title defects – Unregistered land, boundary disputes, restrictive covenants, or missing deeds may require legal resolution before the transaction can proceed.
• Missing or delayed documents – If required documents (e.g., planning permissions, guarantees, compliance certificates) are unavailable, additional time may be needed to resolve.

5. Contract Negotiations & Delays

• Enquiries and clarifications – The buyer’s Solicitor may need to raise multiple enquiries about the property, which can take time for the seller to address.
• Delays in drafting contracts – Solicitors may need to take extra time preparing or reviewing contracts, especially when the transaction is complex.
• Disagreements over terms – Issues like completion dates, fixtures, or indemnity insurance can cause disputes.

6. Exchange & Completion Issues

• Delays in exchanging contracts – If one party hesitates, it can risk the whole transaction.
• Last-minute problems – Buyers may struggle to transfer deposit funds in time, or there may be sudden seller withdrawals.
• Completion day hiccups – Delays in transferring funds between Solicitors can sometimes mean keys aren’t released on time.

In summary, the Conveyancing process involves multiple third parties working together, and delays can arise due to factors outside the control of your Conveyancer. While these challenges can slow progress, an experienced Conveyancer is there to navigate them efficiently, ensuring the transaction stays on track, while protecting your best interests at all times.