Licensed Conveyancer Nikki Shorto from Clear Conveyancing shares her advice for avoiding common pitfalls that could slow down or halt the sale of your property.

Ask around and you will hear plenty of strong opinions about how the conveyancing process in England and Wales is stuck in the past, and in great need of an overhaul. One of the consequences of this, I believe, is the fall-through rate which is currently around 13% of residential sales. Let’s see what we can do about improving that statistic in 2026.

As a Licensed Conveyancer with nine years of experience, I am well placed to consider the stages of the conveyancing process, and take proactive steps to speed them up. Here are a few things you can do to help your sale go smoothly, right through to completion.

You may have heard that in English and Welsh property law, the onus for making sufficient enquiries about a property is on the buyer. Make their task easier by preparing your deeds, warranties and certificates in readiness.

Prove that you have the right to sell the property

Some documents, like deeds, are your proof of ownership and you cannot sell property without some way of linking you to that ownership. That could be through purchase, inheritance, gift, or transfer of equity, all of which produce documents. Make sure that you have updated your deeds, or at least gathered evidence to prove that you have the right to sell it. This will easily save weeks of delay.

The law is changing, and this means that things like having a recent boiler service carried out are now no longer legally required; but if you are keen to sell, I would strongly advise you to have one. Here’s why: the absence of a clear boiler history can scare off your potential buyer, because they may be concerned that the boiler could have a fault that will cost them financially later.

Save time and reassure your buyer

If you had an extension added to your property, your buyer’s conveyancer will consider the details of its construction. There may be a risk of enforcement action from the Local Authority, for instance, if you do not hold consent for it, and that could concern your buyer. It’s good practice to obtain an email from the Local Authority to confirm that no planning permission is required. This small act saves you time and reassures your buyer during the conveyancing process.

You may recall that when purchasing your property, regular updates helped you to remain calm and certain that things were moving along. By keeping your estate agent updated, you and your conveyancer can help to nip buyer’s doubt in the bud before it gets a chance to develop and cause problems. This can, and does, save chains from collapse!

Instruct a proactive and local team to have the best chance of completing your sale without needing to chase for progress.

If you would like advice and support with your property sale, with swift and efficient conveyancing, please get in touch with Clear Conveyancing using the contact details below.

hello@clearconveyancing.co.uk
01242 907355
www.clearconveyancing.co.uk