How Long Does It Take to Move House in the UK?

How long does it take to move house? It depends:

• Are you buying a home?
• Selling a home?
• What happens in between?

You have a lot to consider. The actual relocation of your belongings is fast. We can have someone at your location within the hour.

But with the bureaucracy of buying and selling properties in the UK, the timeframe will vary a lot. We’ll explore these differences below and help you understand your projected move timeline.

Short Answer — What Most UK Moves Actually Take

The average time to move house in the UK is 12 - 20 weeks. Yet, your answer of “how long does it take to move house” will vary, depending on:

• No chain moves: 6-10 weeks
• Chain moves: 16-24+ weeks
• Exchange to completion: 1-4 weeks

At VanUmove, our home removal service makes a relocation as simple as possible. Stress-free moves are possible when you have a reliable partner by your side.

We offer the flexibility to have removal companies ready to transport your items to fit your timeline.

Average Time to Move House UK – What the Data Shows

Statistically, the UK has the slowest-moving timelines out of 10 countries. How long does it take to move house? Here’s what the data says:

Why does the UK lag behind so many other countries? One mortgage professional states that there’s a lack of communication and timekeeping. Local authorities and solicitors frustrate buyers who often go weeks without an email reply.

If you’re diligent and work with the right solicitor, you might speed up this timeline.

Planning to move to a large city?

Be sure to book your man with a van in London early to speed up the process.

How Long Does It Take to Move House With and Without a Chain?

A moving house timeline in the UK must consider multiple factors.

What is a property chain?

Chains are sequences in the United Kingdom that relate to property transactions. A property has a chain if there are:

• Buyers and sellers, and
• Each is dependent on the other to move

For example, let’s assume Person A is purchasing a property from Person B. The seller may need the funds from the buyer to satisfy Person C, who is buying a house.

Complex chains like these can derail an entire transaction because one person changes their mind. In the best case? One weak link causes delays rather than stoppages.

What is a no-property chain?

Simple transactions like these require only a buyer and seller without any additional moving parts. Perhaps the buyer has cash or has already sold their flat and will use the proceeds for the purchase.

Sellers may not live in the home, so it’s an easy transaction.

If you’re lucky enough to be involved in a no-chain sale, the process can take 6-10 weeks. Otherwise, expect 12-24 weeks for a property chain to close.

Completion occurs when the funds are transferred from the buyer to the seller.

Allow at least 12 weeks in the best-case scenario for a property with or without a chain to complete.

Moving House Timeline UK — From Offer to Completion

As you know, there are many stages of moving house, even with a local removal company. Your timeline may vary. But the average time to move house in the UK is as follows:

The Moving House Process Explained

Moving house can feel like a marathon. But the process typically goes through five stages, which include:

Stage 1: Offer Accepted

Once the offer is accepted, the Memorandum of Sale is issued. Now is a good time to start the process of comparing removal services.

Stage 2: Conveyancing

The longest stage in the moving house timeline in the UK typically lasts 8-12 weeks. Your solicitor performs searches and asks the seller questions.

Stage 3: Exchange of Contracts

The most important day in the moving house process. Both solicitors swapped signed contracts. The buyer pays the deposit.

The move is now legally binding, and a completion date is fixed in the contract. Now is the time to book a man with a van service.

Stage 4: Gap Between Exchange and Completion

Usually 7-14 days. This stage is all about logistics and packing. Use this time to dismantle furniture and box up non-essentials. Ensure your man with a van has clear access and parking instructions for both properties.

Stage 5: Completion

The money is transferred. The seller’s solicitor confirms the receipt. The estate agent is authorized to release the keys.

Moving on to completion day? Coordinate your start time to ensure your driver isn’t sitting outside a house you don’t yet have the keys for.

Follow our moving house address change checklist for even more help.

The 4 Biggest Time-Drains (And How to Avoid Them)

The average house move time is just that – an average. Delays and time drains can set your move back.

Here are the four biggest time sinks and how to bypass them.

1. Management Pack Delays
   Moving in or out of a flat? You are at the mercy of the freeholder or management company. They must provide an LPE1 form. These companies often take 3-6 weeks to respond to a single request.
   To avoid this, sellers should pay for and request the management pack the same day the property goes on the market.
2. Search Backlogs
   Local Authority searches look for things such as local planning restrictions. Some local councils have backlogs and take over 40 days to return results.
   Ask your solicitor to order Personal Searches rather than official ones if the council is especially slow. Personal agents often get the data faster.
3. Enquiry Delays
   Once the buyer’s solicitor receives the contract, they will make enquiries. If your solicitor only checks their emails once per week, this back-and-forth can easily add weeks or a month to the process.
   Here’s how to avoid this: Gather every service record, planning permission document, window certificate and any other record before you even find a buyer.
4. Mortgage Offer Expiry
   Mortgage offers are generally only valid for 3-6 months. There’s a chance your offer will expire before you reach the exchange if delays drag out the process. The lender will likely re-evaluate your entire application. This may mean:

• Higher interest rates
• Down-valuation

Track your expiry date from day one. Have your solicitor and broker request an extension if you are within 4 weeks of the deadline and haven’t exchanged.

How to Speed Up the House Moving Process

How long does moving house take? It may be sooner than you think if you take steps to speed up the process.

• Get “contract-ready” from the start if you are the seller. Fill out the TA6 and TA10 forms immediately. Instruct a solicitor from the moment the house is put on the market. This alone can save 2-3 weeks of back and forth.
• Choose a proactive solicitor. Look for firms that use digital ID verification or app-based tracking. Solicitors who move quickly get completion dates sooner.
• Order searches immediately. Buyers should authorize their solicitor to order searches the moment the offer is accepted. You may lose money if the mortgage falls through, but you will gain weeks of momentum if it moves forward.
• Don’t wait for updates. Be proactive. Ask your estate agent for progress updates weekly. Agents are more likely to nudge solicitors if they know they have a proactive client watching the clock.

Follow these tips and you can speed up your move by a few weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the average time to move house in the UK?

The average house move timeline is 3-5 months from the moment the offer is accepted to the day you get the keys.

How long does moving house take if there is no chain?

8-12 weeks typically. The process of moving house is much faster without a chain. Completion dates are certain. Buyers may even have the opportunity for a simultaneous exchange and completion.

What delays the moving house process the most?

You can estimate how long to move house, but delays may occur. Conveyancing. Mortgage and valuation issues. Leasehold complications. These can all extend the process.

How long after the exchange can you move in?

7-14 days – if you’re following a typical moving house process. You are free to move into the property on the day of completion.

When should I book removals — before or after the exchange?

Book immediately after the exchange. But start the process well before. Compare quotes. Find the right provider. Once you exchange, the completion date is legally fixed. This allows you to book your removal service with little risk.

How long between exchange and completion?

One to two weeks on average. Solicitors generally need at least seven days to draw down mortgage funds.

Can you complete and move in on the same day?

Sometimes. A simultaneous exchange and completion is possible if there is no chain. And some removal companies – including many that we work with at VanUmove – even offer same-day service. Check with the service provider to verify whether they offer this option.

We have partner drivers who offer same-day removals available to assist you.