What are conveyancing enquiries?
Conveyancing enquiries are written questions your conveyancer sends to the seller's solicitor after reviewing the contract pack, title, property forms and search results. They clarify anything unclear about boundaries, alterations, disputes, guarantees or services. Replies often need information from the seller or a third party, which is why this stage frequently causes delay.
Enquiries are where most purchases quietly stall. Nothing dramatic is happening; a question has been asked, and someone who is not in a hurry has to find the answer. Understanding what is being asked makes the wait easier to interpret and easier to chase.
What sort of questions get asked?
Enquiries follow the paperwork. Your conveyancer reads the title, the seller's property information form, the fittings and contents form, the searches, and where relevant the leasehold pack, then asks about anything that does not add up.
- Evidence of building regulations approval or planning permission for alterations.
- Guarantees and warranties for work such as damp proofing, roofing or a new boiler.
- Boundary responsibilities and any rights of way over the land.
- Disputes with neighbours, past or present.
- For leasehold, service charges, ground rent, major works and the lease terms.
Why do enquiries take so long?
The seller often has to dig out documents from years ago, request duplicates from a council, or chase a managing agent. Each round trip adds days, and a single answer can generate a follow-up question.
Volume matters too. A long list of routine enquiries takes longer to clear than a short, targeted one, which is why good conveyancers focus on what genuinely affects you.
What can you do to help?
If you are buying, ask your conveyancer for the list of outstanding enquiries and the date each was raised. You can then ask the estate agent to nudge the seller on specifics rather than in general terms.
If you are selling, gather certificates, guarantees and completed forms before your buyer's enquiries arrive. Preparation here removes weeks later.
Key takeaway
Enquiries are questions waiting on answers from people outside the transaction. Ask for the outstanding list by name and date, and chase the specific item rather than the process.
Frequently asked questions
How long do conveyancing enquiries take?
A few weeks is common, though complicated titles, leaseholds and missing paperwork can extend it. The main factor is how quickly the seller and any third parties can supply documents.
Can a purchase fall through because of enquiries?
It can, if an answer reveals something serious such as an unresolved dispute, a missing consent or an unacceptable lease term. More often the issue is resolved with paperwork, an undertaking or indemnity insurance.
What is indemnity insurance in conveyancing?
It is a policy that covers a specific risk, such as missing building regulations paperwork, rather than fixing the underlying problem. Your conveyancer will advise whether it is appropriate and whether your lender accepts it.
Notes log
Enquiries are easy to lose track of. Logging each update with a date in MyMoveMate means you can see exactly how long an answer has been outstanding.
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