How long does conveyancing take in Ireland?
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Short answer
There is no single answer, because timing depends on the seller, the title and the mortgage. As a guide from Jacob Law LLP's completed cases: a straightforward second-hand purchase usually completes about four weeks after contracts are signed, recent purchases have run from three to fourteen weeks from instruction to keys, a sale takes roughly two to three months from sale agreed, and a standard mortgage switch about six weeks.
What the firm’s recent cases show
These are complete transactions handled by Jacob Law LLP, measured from the day the case opened to the day the keys were handed over:
| Case | Type | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lusk, Co. Dublin | New-build house, mortgage | 3 weeks |
| Swords, Co. Dublin | New-build house, cash buyer | 4 weeks |
| Dublin 22 | Second-hand house, first-time buyer, no chain | 5 weeks |
| Gorey, Co. Wexford | New-build house, Help to Buy | 6 weeks |
| Lucan, Co. Dublin | Second-hand apartment, part of a chain | 7 weeks |
| Cork | Second-hand house, married couple | 10 weeks |
| Co. Cork | Tenanted house needing a special vacant-possession clause | 14 weeks |
The spread is the point. A vacant property with a ready buyer and clean title moves fast; a chain, a tenant or a title problem does not.
Purchase: the usual shape
Once the seller’s solicitor issues contracts and the title has been investigated, a second-hand purchase usually completes about four weeks after contracts are signed. Before that point the pace depends on how quickly the contracts arrive and how many queries the title raises. The full sequence from sale agreed to keys is set out in the twelve steps of the article linked below.
Sale: two to three months
Once you go sale agreed, allow roughly two to three months to closing where the paperwork is in order. Missing certificates, probate, retention permission or a chain of connected sales push it out further; retention permission alone takes weeks or months, and taking up the deeds from a lender can take weeks. Preparing the legal pack before going to market removes most of that waiting from the sale itself.
Mortgage switch: about six weeks
A standard switch takes about six weeks. More complex cases, such as a separation or divorce, take longer.
What you can control
Instruct a solicitor at booking deposit stage rather than later; have identification, proof of address and proof of funds ready for onboarding; book the survey or snag inspection early; and keep the lender’s conditions moving. Since March 2026 banks must provide title deeds within ten working days of a request, which removes a delay that used to cost sellers eight to twelve weeks.
Frequently asked questions
What most often delays a purchase?
The seller's readiness, how quickly contracts issue, title issues, mortgage requirements, survey findings and how fast queries are answered. A chain of connected sales or a probate sale can take longer, and a missing planning certificate or title deed adds weeks.
How long is mortgage approval valid?
Approval in principle and a loan offer are typically valid for six months and can be renewed if needed. Buildings insurance must be in place 10 to 14 days before drawdown.
Does a new build take longer?
A new build is not finished when you sign, so the timeline runs to the developer's completion notice. That notice starts a short deadline set by your building agreement, weeks rather than months, within which you must close.