After the formal sale and purchase agreement is signed, the buyer's solicitor registers it with the Land Registry. The seller gives the title deeds to their solicitor for transfer to the buyer's solicitor for inspection. At completion, the seller must deliver vacant possession unless the property is sold with an existing tenancy.
How Can the Seller Check Progress?
The seller can ask their own solicitor to confirm:
- Whether the formal sale and purchase agreement has been registered with the Land Registry.
- Whether the title deeds have been handed over and transferred to the buyer's solicitor for inspection.
- Whether the inspection is complete and whether any matters identified remain outstanding.
- How vacant possession will be delivered upon completion.
These checks concern the status of the documents and the agreed handover arrangements. They do not establish a fixed timetable unless a date is stated in the signed agreement or another verified document.
What Must Be Confirmed Before Completion?
The cited guidance does not state a fixed deadline for registration or delivery of the title deeds, or a completion date. The seller should therefore confirm the contractual timetable with their own solicitor rather than assume when each step will occur.
If the property is sold with an existing tenancy, the seller should confirm the possession arrangement under the signed agreement instead of assuming that vacant possession is required.