A practical rule
Chase when you need a decision, a missing fact or confirmation that the next action has happened. If your conveyancer has told you a search result is due next week, there is little value in emailing tomorrow. If next week passes with no update, a focused follow-up is reasonable.
“Please can you confirm the outstanding items before exchange, who currently owns each action, and the date each was last chased?”
Good reasons to chase
A promised update is overdue
If you were told you would hear after a search, survey, lender response or a particular date and nothing arrived, follow up on that specific item.
You cannot identify the blocker
If all you know is that the matter is “ongoing”, ask for a list of outstanding pre-exchange items.
You have supplied something important
Confirm that ID, source-of-funds evidence, signed documents or other requested information has been received and is sufficient.
A deadline is approaching
Mortgage-offer expiry, tenancy dates, removals, school plans or a contractual deadline can make timing more important. Tell your conveyancer early.
Another professional says they are waiting
If your broker, estate agent or seller says your solicitor has an action, ask your solicitor directly rather than relying on messages passed through the chain.
The transaction appears to have changed stage
A mortgage offer, search result or survey may mean the next legal action is now possible. Ask what follows.
Questions that produce better updates
- Has the draft contract pack been received and reviewed?
- Have all required searches been ordered and which are still outstanding?
- Have enquiries been raised? Which material enquiries remain?
- Is there anything outstanding from me?
- Do you have my formal mortgage offer, and are there lender conditions still to satisfy?
- What is the single biggest blocker to exchange today?
- Who owns that action and when was it last chased?
- Once that is resolved, what is likely to be the next blocker?
Who should you chase for what?
| Issue | Best first contact | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Searches, title, enquiries, exchange readiness | Your conveyancer | These are part of the legal work. |
| Mortgage underwriting or offer | Broker or lender | They can see the mortgage application status. |
| Property chain readiness | Estate agent | The agent often has visibility across buyer and seller positions. |
| Survey report or inspection question | Your surveyor | They can explain findings and whether further inspection is sensible. |
| Legal significance of a survey/title issue | Your conveyancer | You need advice on how it affects the transaction. |
How often is too often?
There is no universal interval. The right frequency depends on what you are waiting for. If a third party has quoted a two-week turnaround, daily chasing is unlikely to make a difference. If everyone says they are ready to exchange but no one can explain why exchange has not happened, more frequent coordination can be justified.
The aim is visibility, not volume. A short, structured update once there is something meaningful to check is usually more productive than a stream of general messages.
What if you are getting no meaningful response?
Start with the person handling your matter and ask for a clear written status. If communication remains poor, use the firm’s client-care process or ask for the supervising solicitor/team leader. The firm should be able to explain how complaints and service concerns are handled.
Separate service frustration from legal judgement. Your purchase can be genuinely complex even when communication is good; equally, a simple transaction can feel difficult when nobody explains what is happening.
Keep your own mini progress log
Record the date of each major event: offer accepted, conveyancer instructed, mortgage application, survey, searches ordered/returned, enquiries raised/replied to, mortgage offer, exchange and completion. Then note the current outstanding action beside it.
This makes it easier to ask precise questions and helps you notice when the same item has remained unresolved across several updates.
Not sure whether your own purchase is moving normally?
Enter the dates you know. Keyvo’s free progress checker estimates where your purchase appears to be, highlights possible blockers and gives you practical questions to ask next.
Use the free timeline checkerSources used to review this guide
We write Keyvo’s guides in our own words and review factual process points against current public guidance. These sources were checked on 12 October 2026:
- GOV.UK — Buying a home (England and Wales)
- GOV.UK — Transferring ownership (conveyancing)
- MoneyHelper — Buying a house or flat in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Keyvo provides general information and a progress-checking tool. It is not a solicitor, conveyancer, mortgage adviser or surveyor, and this guide is not legal, financial or mortgage advice. The process described here is for England and Wales; other UK jurisdictions use different systems.