Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2023 1:26pm
I think 3 months is average or even quick for a house sale to complete in the UK.
Firstly, is the property in a chain? If so, then you are not only dependent on the processing of your sale / purchase, but also a chain of other people all going through the same processes, agreeing sale & purchase prices, dates, etc.
Searches:
Local Authority searches - are there any planning applications pending which may affect the property?
Coal Board searches - if there has ever been coal mining in the area - for subsidence risks.
Environmental searches - is there a risk of flooding, are there bats or newts nearby, etc.
Land Registry searches - does another property have a right of way across a part of your property? Does the property for sale match the deeds (land borders, etc.)
Mortgage approval - as you have stated. Mortgage providers will also generally want either their own or an independent valuation of the property.
In Scotland, the vendor collects most of this information in a Home Report, produced by independent registered and regulated companies (a bit like selling your car with all the MOT and service history, etc.). This was brought in briefly in England & Wales from 2007-2010, but then scrapped, so it remains the duty of the purchaser's solicitors to collate all this information and advise it it is safe to purchase the property.
One thing that I think could be improved is that almost all of this is done in hard copies and by mail, instead of electronic copies and email, which would be quicker.