# What is a mortgage chain delay?

> Quick answer · Last updated 4 July 2026

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## In short

When your purchase depends on your seller buying another home, which depends on another sale — one broken link or slow solicitor delays everyone. Chains are the main cause of long waits before exchange.

Break a chain by selling first and renting temporarily, using bridging finance (expensive), or negotiating simultaneous exchange on multiple links.

Keep your solicitor responsive and complete mortgage paperwork quickly to avoid being the weak link.

See mortgage offer to completion and bridging finance guides.

## Related

- [Mortgage offer to completion](https://moneyguide.org.uk/mortgages/mortgage-offer-to-completion/)
- [Bridging finance basics](https://moneyguide.org.uk/mortgages/bridging-finance-basics/)

## Primary source

gov.uk/buying-a-home

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Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.