Once the seller's conveyancer has responded to every legal enquiry, the buyer's conveyancer reviews the answers and, if satisfied, moves towards recommending exchange. Unresolved enquiries are one of the most common reasons a sale stalls right before that point, so this stage matters more than its quiet, paperwork-heavy nature suggests.
What does it actually mean when enquiries are answered?
The seller's conveyancer has compiled and sent formal responses to every question the buyer's conveyancer raised. These might include documents, planning permissions, building regulations certificates, guarantees, indemnity insurance policies, or straightforward written assurances and explanations about the property's history.
Why does this stage matter so much?
Satisfied enquiries mean the buyer's conveyancer has enough information to advise their client that the legal position is acceptable and safe to proceed to exchange. If any response falls short, the conveyancer will advise on what that means and what the options are. Unresolved enquiries are, genuinely, one of the most common causes of delay right before exchange, so getting a clean set of answers matters more than it might feel like at the time.
What happens behind the scenes?
The buyer's conveyancer reviews every response carefully and raises follow-up enquiries if anything is incomplete or opens a new question. Once they're satisfied, they prepare a report on title, a summary of their legal findings and advice, and send it to the buyer before asking them to sign the contract. As a seller, you won't see this report, but its preparation is itself a sign the buyer's legal process is close to done.
What should you do, as a buyer?
Read your conveyancer's report on title properly when it lands, and make sure you understand the legal position before signing anything. If anything's still outstanding, ask your conveyancer to explain it clearly, including what the actual risk is if it stays unresolved. Once they confirm they're satisfied, the focus usually shifts to agreeing an exchange date with everyone else involved.
What should you do, as a seller?
Check with your conveyancer that every enquiry has genuinely been answered in full. If anything's outstanding, push to resolve it now rather than letting it drift. If the buyer's solicitor raises a follow-up query at this stage, respond as fast as you can, this is a common point at which transactions stall unnecessarily. Start thinking seriously about your completion date, and talk to your agent and conveyancer about what's realistic.
| Role | What to focus on |
|---|---|
| Buyer | Read the report on title properly before signing |
| Seller | Confirm nothing's outstanding; respond fast to any follow-ups |
| Both | Start aligning on a realistic completion date |
Frequently asked questions
- What does it mean when legal enquiries are answered?
- The seller's conveyancer has sent formal responses, which the buyer's conveyancer then reviews for satisfaction.
- What is a report on title?
- A summary of the buyer's conveyancer's legal findings, sent before the buyer signs the contract.
- Why are unresolved enquiries such a common cause of delay?
- Because a conveyancer won't advise exchange until satisfied, so anything outstanding holds the whole move up.
- What should I do once enquiries are answered?
- Buyers should read the report on title carefully; sellers should respond fast to any follow-ups and start planning the completion date.
This guide is general information for home movers in England and Wales, not legal advice.