Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Completion definition

What does Completion mean? In legal practice, Completion is the point at which a transaction is finally effected, sometimes called 'closing' in cross‑border deals: consideration is paid and title, assets or rights are transferred after all conditions precedent are satisfied or waived and the required completion documents are delivered. Not generally defined by legislation, it is a contractual expression used across conveyancing, corporate/M&A and finance, informed by common law. Key features include a completion date/time; completion mechanics (agenda or checklist); execution and delivery of transfers and ancillary documents; release of funds (often against undertakings); and, where relevant, escrow or virtual completion. Completion usually fixes when...

Merger on completion and post‑completion remedies in property contracts: exceptions, non‑merger clauses, vacant possession, repudiation, breach of trust, covenants for title, misrepresentation and rectification

Published by a LexisNexis Property Disputes expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note examines when obligations in a property contract fuse on completion and what remedies might still be available once completion has taken place. For remedies relating to property contracts in general, see the following Practice Notes:

Specific performance of property agreements
Notice to complete
Termination for breach of property contract
Repudiation of property sale contracts
Return or forfeiture of a deposit
misrepresentation, misstatement and non-disclosure in property matters
Rectification—mutual mistake, and
Rectification—unilateral mistake

The general rule

At common law, the same subject matter cannot be governed by two concurrent agreements. Where a contract is completed by deed, any contractual provisions that overlap with the deed are absorbed into the executed instrument and the contractual terms are extinguished. For instance, a sale contract for land merges into the transfer or conveyance, and an agreement for lease merges into the lease. The effect is that, after completion, a party cannot sue for breach of a contractual term that has merged into the deed: from completion, the parties’ rights are determined solely by the completed deed...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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