Summer is one of the most popular times of year to move home. Families often aim to complete before the school holidays, while others are balancing a house move alongside planned summer travel.
A common question conveyancers hear at this time of year is: “Can I still complete on my house purchase if I’m going on holiday?”
The good news is that in many cases, yes, you can. However, there are a few important things to consider if you’re hoping to move before your summer break or if your completion date falls while you’re away.
How does Residential Conveyancing work?
Completion is the stage where ownership of the property officially transfers from seller to buyer. Although it marks a major milestone in your residential conveyancing journey, much of the legal work is usually completed well beforehand.
Tell Your Conveyancer Your Holiday Dates Early
This is the most important thing you can do. The earlier your conveyancer knows about any dates you’re unavailable, the more they can work towards completing before you travel, or flag early if the timeline is unrealistic.
Leaving it until a week before you fly is too late. By that point, your conveyancer may already be working towards a completion date that falls while you’re away and unpicking that in a chain affects everyone.
As soon as your holiday is booked, let your conveyancer know. It’s a five-minute conversation that can save a significant amount of stress. early can help avoid unnecessary delays.
Understand What Can Cause Delays and Get Ahead of Them
Conveyancing timelines are rarely fully within your control, but there are things on your side of the transaction that are. Common causes of delay that buyers can influence include:
- Outstanding paperwork
Unsigned documents, incomplete forms, or slow responses to queries from your solicitor are among the most frequent causes of holdups. If you have a holiday deadline in mind, make sure you’re turning around anything your conveyancer sends you as quickly as possible.
- ID and anti-money laundering checks
These are required for every transaction and need to be completed before exchange. Don’t leave them until the last minute.
- Deposit funds
Your deposit needs to be transferred to your solicitor before the exchange of contracts. Make sure you know when this needs to happen and that the funds are ready.
- Mortgage conditions
If your lender has outstanding conditions on your mortgage offer, these need to be resolved before your solicitor can proceed. Chase your broker or lender if anything is unclear.
Planning Ahead Can Make Summer Moves Easier
Moving home and planning a holiday at the same time can feel overwhelming, but with early preparation and clear communication, both can often be managed successfully.
If you’re planning a summer move, speaking to your conveyancer as early as possible can help minimise delays and keep your transaction on track for your preferred completion date.
FAQ
Yes, provided the solicitor has your signed paperwork and authority to proceed. You should remain contactable in case final instructions are required.
Not if you communicate early and stay on top of your paperwork. Delays are usually caused by outstanding documents or slow responses, not by holidays themselves.
Exchange is when both parties sign and swap contracts, making the sale legally binding. Completion is when the money transfers and ownership passes; it’s the day you get the keys. They’re separate events, usually a week or two apart, though they can happen on the same day in some cases.
If you’re in a chain and haven’t yet exchanged, this is a risk. This is why telling your conveyancer your holiday dates early are important. They can factor your availability into discussions about completion dates.
As soon as it’s booked. Even if you’re months away from completion, your conveyancer needs to know so they can plan accordingly.
