The First-Time Buyer Mortgage Process: From AIP to Completion

This guide is general information, not regulated advice. Your own timeline depends on lender, chain length, property type, and conveyancer responsiveness. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

The 9 stages of a UK first-time buyer purchase

What causes the most delays

• Conveyancing chain length. Every linked sale introduces another mortgage, legal process and completion date that must align.
• Leasehold or estate information. The conveyancer may need information from a freeholder, managing agent or estate-management company.
• Search and enquiry responses. Turnaround depends on the providers involved and whether the results raise further questions.
• Mortgage offer expiry. If the legal work runs beyond the offer period, the lender will decide whether an extension or reassessment is available.
• Survey-driven renegotiation. If the survey finds material issues (subsidence, damp, dry rot, asbestos), price renegotiation or remedial-works clauses can delay exchange.
• Insurance or funds not ready. Follow the conveyancer's instructions on insurance, deposit evidence and cleared funds before the legal commitment.

Documents you need ready

Gather the documents requested by the lender, broker and conveyancer before the formal application. Requirements vary, but common categories include:

• ID: passport, driving licence.
• Proof of address in a format and date range the provider accepts.
• Income evidence appropriate to your employment or business structure.
• Personal and, where relevant, business bank statements for the requested period.
• Deposit source documents: savings account statements showing accumulation, gifted deposit letter + donor source-of-funds, LISA closure proof, sale of asset documentation.
• Property documents: memorandum of sale from estate agent, EPC, leasehold information (if applicable).

Full checklist: see our documents checklist.

How to speed it up

• Get AIP before house-hunting (faster offers; vendor takes you seriously).
• Use a broker who has placement relationships with multiple lenders.
• Instruct your solicitor the day your offer is accepted (don't wait for the mortgage offer).
• Submit complete, current documents and respond promptly when more information is requested.
• Choose a chain-free property if speed matters - vacant possession or new-build.
• For leaseholds, request the management pack early (your solicitor will know who to chase).
• Have buildings insurance lined up before exchange (broker can recommend providers).
• Follow the conveyancer's instructions on when and how to transfer deposit funds.

What happens after completion

The deal isn't fully done at completion. Within the first weeks:

• Your conveyancer submits any required SDLT, LBTT or LTT return and payment under the deadline for the relevant nation and transaction.
• The conveyancer applies to the relevant land register to record ownership and the lender's charge.
• The lender confirms the date and amount of your first mortgage payment.
• Set up direct debits for council tax, utilities, and any leasehold service charges.
• Update your address with HMRC, employer, banks, and the electoral roll.

What to do next

Read how a mortgage in principle works, including credit-search types and why it is not a formal offer. You can then request a broker introduction. The deposit guide, property-tax guide, and borrowing section cover the other early decisions.