Your completion date is the day ownership actually changes hands, purchase funds transfer, and keys get handed over. Agreeing it is one of the final steps before exchange, and getting it right takes coordination across everyone in the chain, not just you and the other side of your own transaction.
Who actually agrees the completion date?
Every buyer and seller in the chain, and all of their conveyancers, since every completion within a chain happens on the same day. The date is written into the contracts at exchange, at which point it becomes legally binding on everyone.
Why does getting this right matter?
A date that's too soon may not leave enough time for mortgage funds to actually be arranged. A date that's too far out after exchange creates uncertainty nobody particularly needs. For anyone in a chain, the date has to suit every party simultaneously, which is precisely why this stage can take longer than it might seem like it should.
What happens behind the scenes?
Your conveyancer and estate agent liaise with everyone else in the chain to find a date that genuinely works for all parties. If you're buying with a mortgage, you'll need to confirm your offer is still valid on the chosen date, most last three to six months, though this varies by lender. If you're selling, your conveyancer will arrange for any mortgage you hold to be redeemed on the day, transferring surplus proceeds to you once their fees and the mortgage balance are deducted.
What should you check, as a buyer?
Confirm the proposed date actually works for you before it's formally agreed with everyone else. Check your mortgage offer will still be valid on that date. Start looking at removal companies as soon as a date looks likely, availability is genuinely limited, particularly around Fridays and month-end. If you're currently renting, give notice to your landlord in line with your tenancy terms once you have an exchange date confirmed.
What should you check, as a seller?
Confirm the date works for you before it's finalised, and if you're buying onward too, make sure the same date works for that purchase as well. Book your removal company early, popular completion dates fill up fast. Start thinking about what needs clearing from the property, and confirm with your buyer exactly what fixtures and fittings are included in the sale, so there's no ambiguity on the day itself.
| Check before agreeing | Buyer or seller |
|---|---|
| Mortgage offer still valid on the date | Buyer |
| Removal company booked early | Both |
| Landlord notice given, if renting | Buyer |
| Fixtures and fittings agreed with buyer | Seller |
| Onward purchase date aligned | Seller (if also buying) |
Frequently asked questions
- Who agrees the completion date?
- Every buyer and seller in the chain and all their conveyancers, since chain completions happen on the same day.
- What should buyers check before agreeing a completion date?
- That their mortgage offer stays valid on that date and there's time to arrange removals and utilities.
- What should sellers check before agreeing a completion date?
- That any onward purchase aligns, a removal company is booked, and fixtures and fittings are agreed with the buyer.
- Why do removal companies get booked up around certain dates?
- Fridays and month-end are especially popular completion dates, so book as soon as a date looks likely.
This guide is general information for home movers in England and Wales, not legal or financial advice.