selling
What happens on completion day: the timeline from the first transfer to the keys
What happens on completion day in a house sale: money moves between solicitors, ownership transfers and the keys are handed over. Steps for sellers and buyers.
- 4 min read
- Last reviewed 4 November 2026
- By Your Property Check team
Key answer
Part 1 of 7
What completion day is
General information, not advice. Completion is the point when ownership moves from seller to buyer. GOV.UK describes it as the stage where you "transfer ownership and move out". It follows exchange of contracts, when the sale becomes binding and a deposit is paid. Citizens Advice says any deposit is paid to the seller's solicitor at exchange and held until completion. We read the pages named below on 4 November 2026. They do not give a standard completion time, and the Law Society pages did not load for us, so we do not state a time of day or a late completion interest rate. Your conveyancer will tell you both from your contract.
Part 2 of 7
The timeline
| Step | What happens | Who is involved |
|---|---|---|
| Before the day | The seller arranges to leave the house empty and hands over all keys on completion day. Final meter readings are requested for completion day | Seller |
| Contract terms | The agreed completion date sits in the contract exchanged earlier | Both solicitors |
| Money moves | The buyer's solicitor sends the rest of the price. Citizens Advice says the seller's solicitor receives it and passes it on, with the deposit, to the seller | Buyer's side, seller's solicitor |
| Transfer | The transfer deed (form TR1 in the usual case) is signed by the seller, and the completion date is entered on it after it has been executed | Seller, both solicitors |
| Keys | The seller hands over all keys, as arranged through the agent or solicitors | Seller, agent, solicitors |
| Registration | The buyer's solicitor applies to the Land Registry to record the new owner, usually on form AP1 | Buyer's solicitor |
Part 3 of 7
What the seller does
- Leave the house empty and hand over all keys. Citizens Advice says you must arrange this by completion day.
- Ask your fuel and phone providers for final readings, and tell the council tax office you are leaving.
- Do not allow the buyer to start work before completion. Citizens Advice makes this point directly.
- Keep your phone on. Your solicitor may need to reach you if a question comes up, for example about the money or the keys.
- Check that the final meter readings and the council tax notice have been given, because both are dated to the day you leave.
Our moving house checklist has the full list, and the guide to fixtures, fittings and contents explains what should stay in the house.
Part 4 of 7
What the buyer does
The buyer's solicitor arranges the money. Ask your solicitor how and when they will tell you that completion has happened and where to collect the keys. Our guide to the TR1 form explains the transfer deed. GOV.UK says the completion date goes in panel 3 of form TR1 once the deed has been executed, and that all those transferring must sign. After completion the buyer's solicitor registers the change of owner. GOV.UK's fees guidance includes an example where a mortgage charge is lodged a few days after the completion date, so registration happens after the day itself.
Part 5 of 7
Fraud and the right account
Completion involves a large transfer of money in a short window, which is why fraud warnings matter on this day more than on most.
GOV.UK warns that there is a risk of fraud when selling a home because it involves transferring large sums of money. It tells sellers to transfer money to the correct bank account and to check that they are dealing with the right person or business. If an email changes bank details close to completion, ring your solicitor on a number you already know before acting.
Part 6 of 7
What if completion is late?
Sellers and buyers both worry about this, so it is worth asking early.
Citizens Advice has a separate page on problems with selling, including delayed completion, which we could not open, so we do not set out the rules or any compensation here. Late completion is governed by the contract. Tell your solicitor straight away, because the contract will say what happens and whether interest or other costs apply.
Part 7 of 7
How long does the whole sale take?
GOV.UK says selling a home takes about 5 months on average and can take longer if you are part of a chain of buyers and sellers. Completion is the last step in that sequence. Our guide to how long conveyancing takes explains the stages before it, our sale method comparison compares routes on net proceeds and timescale, and the glossary entry for completion has the short definition.
This page is general information, not advice.
Our take
Be ready the day before, not on the day
On completion day the money reaches your solicitor, ownership transfers and the keys change hands. Citizens Advice says the seller must leave the house empty and hand over all keys by then. Our view: sort the move early, and if an email changes bank details close to completion, ring your solicitor on a number you already know.
While you plan, our sale method comparison compares auction, estate agent and cash buyer on net proceeds and timescale, which helps if you are still choosing how to sell or want to see what you will receive.
Our opinion, drawn from the facts on this page: not advice and not a forecast. We earn from OfferCheck reports and from introducing sellers to cash buyers, so weigh it with that in mind (see our disclosure). We are not authorised or regulated by the FCA.
Questions, answered
Frequently asked questions
What happens on completion day?
What time do you get the keys?
What if completion is late?
What do you do on the day?
Where this comes from
Sources
- Citizens Advice: Selling a home
- GOV.UK: Selling a home, conveyancing
- GOV.UK: Guidance on completing form TR1
Last reviewed 4 November 2026 by the Your Property Check team. This page is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. For your own situation, speak to a conveyancing solicitor or another qualified professional.