Time to Fix the Buying and Selling Process: Reform is on the Horizon.

An offer is accepted, searches and a survey are paid for and a mortgage offer is secured. However, the seller or buyer may still withdraw at the last moment leading to frustration, financial setbacks and emotional strain. This is a frequent outcome under the current home-buying and selling system in England and Wales.

On 6 October 2025, the Government launched a consultation aiming to modernise the process. This could mark the most significant shift in decades.

Why is change needed?

The current system is slow, uncertain and inefficient:

• Around one in three transactions fail, costing buyers and sellers around £400 million each year in wasted costs.
• Successful transactions still take around 120 days from offer to completion.
• Delays restrict housing supply, affect affordability and reduce mobility – including for older people wishing to downsize.

The consensus is that the current process is long, complicated and frustrating.

A core issue is that key information is often revealed only after an offer is accepted, contributing to delays and fall-throughs. Other countries offer examples of advanced practice: Norway’s digital system enables four-week transactions, while Scotland’s upfront information and earlier binding contracts reduce failures.

What does the consultation aim to achieve?

The Government proposes reform underpinned by:

• Faster, more reliable transactions – enabled by better digital tools, streamlined processes and reduced repetition
• Reduced fall-throughs and risks, including those caused by property chains – giving consumers and professionals greater clarity
• High professional standards – ensuring competence and accountability across the sector
• Better informed consumers – through improved education and transparency
• Trust and confidence in the system – leading to higher satisfaction and a more resilient market

Key proposed reforms

The overarching vision is a faster, more reliable home buying and selling system driven by informed consumers, innovative technology and high professional standards.

1. Upfront property information

Sellers and estate agents would provide essential documents at the point of listing in a standardised and easy-to-digest format. This could include title information, standard searches (local authority, water and drainage, environmental and locality-specific risks) and a property condition assessment. This mirrors auction-style packs and shifts investigatory responsibility away from the buyer which is currently the norm.

2. Digital property logbooks and packs

A digital bundle of verified property documents would follow a home throughout its life cycle, reducing duplication and delays in sourcing. Like an MOT history but for houses.

3. Professionalisation of agents

The introduction of mandatory qualifications and a Code of Practice for estate, letting and managing agents.

4. Binding conditional contracts

Introducing earlier commitment, as in Scotland, could reduce late withdrawals and give buyers and sellers more certainty.

5. Streamlining transactions

Proposals include simplified Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks, secure digital identity verification, faster leasehold information and greater use of technology and artificial intelligence.

Why does this mean in practice?

The proposals could have a significant impact on consumers and professionals alike.

Buyers:

• Clear, upfront information helping to make informed decisions.
• Increased certainty if entering a binding contract early in the transaction.

Sellers:

• Upfront preparatory work and costs prior to listing.
• Fewer failed sales and quicker completion timescales.

Estate Agents:

• Compliance with new professional requirements and qualifications.
• Working closely with sellers to obtain documentation and prepare a more comprehensive property listing.

Conveyancers:

• Standardised, reliable property information available from the outset could streamline review and due diligence.
• Emphasis on managing expectations of quicker transactions and digitalisation.

What happens next?

The proposals are welcomed by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Law Society to future proof the selling and buying process.

The consultation remains open until 29 December 2025, after which the Government will look to publish a roadmap for reform.

Property professionals should now:

• Stay informed
• Engage with the consultation
• Prepare for greater digitalisation
• Consider how current processes may need to evolve

When a system is slow or unpredictable, everyone feels the impact.

The Government open consultation page can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/home-buying-and-selling-reform/home-buying-and-selling-reform

If you need help with conveyancing contact our Residential Property Team.