Government Unveils Sweeping Reforms to Speed Up Home Buying Process
Wed 01 Jul 2026
The government has proposed a major overhaul of the home buying and selling process in England, with ministers claiming the changes will reduce delays, prevent transactions from collapsing, and save buyers hundreds of pounds.
The package of reforms is designed to modernise what many regard as an outdated and frustrating system, where lengthy delays and failed sales have become increasingly common. According to government figures, the average property purchase currently takes around 120 days to complete, while approximately one in three agreed sales falls through before contracts are exchanged.
Ministers believe the new measures could cut the typical transaction timeline by up to four weeks and save first time buyers an average of £640. The reforms are also intended to inject greater confidence into the housing market by reducing uncertainty for buyers and sellers alike.
A central feature of the proposals is the introduction of mandatory digital sales packs, which will provide key information about a property from the moment it is listed for sale. These packs will include details such as the property's condition, any leasehold charges, and whether the seller is involved in a property chain.
The government argues that making this information available at the outset will help buyers make more informed decisions and reduce the likelihood of unexpected issues emerging later in the transaction process.
Another significant change will be the introduction of earlier legally binding agreements between buyers and sellers. The aim is to prevent either party from withdrawing from a transaction months after negotiations have begun without a valid reason. This has long been a source of frustration in the property market, where buyers and sellers can invest considerable time and money only for a deal to collapse at the final stages.
To improve professional standards, the government also plans to introduce a new Code of Practice for estate agents. Alongside this, consultations will take place on mandatory qualifications for agents, with the intention of ensuring property professionals have the skills and knowledge needed to support smoother transactions.
Officials believe these measures could help restore public confidence in the sector while creating a more consistent standard of service across the industry.
The reforms are being driven in part by the significant economic costs associated with failed property transactions. Government estimates suggest that collapsed sales cost homeowners around £400 million each year, while the wider impact on the economy may be as much as £1.5 billion annually.
At the heart of the strategy is a major push towards digitisation. The government plans to replace many paper based processes with digital alternatives, creating a more streamlined and efficient system. Digital property logbooks and sales packs will allow information to be shared instantly between estate agents, conveyancers, lenders and other parties involved in a transaction. Buyers and sellers will also be able to access updates in real time, reducing uncertainty and improving transparency throughout the process.
The government is also backing the wider use of digital identity verification, electronic signatures and artificial intelligence assisted conveyancing tools. Ministers say these technologies will help eliminate unnecessary duplication, reduce the risk of fraud and speed up every stage of the buying journey.
The long term objective is to create a fully integrated digital property market where information can be securely shared between all parties, making transactions quicker and more straightforward.
In promoting the reforms, the government has pointed to examples from other countries that have already embraced digital property systems. In the Netherlands, buyers and sellers can monitor the progress of their transaction through a live tracking platform, helping to achieve average completion times of just 20 days. Meanwhile, Norway's investment in digital property processes is estimated to have generated savings worth up to £1.4 billion over a decade.
Ministers believe similar benefits can be achieved in England as the system becomes more efficient and transparent. The reforms will be introduced in stages over the coming years. Later this year, the government plans to publish a new Code of Practice for property agents and issue guidance aimed at improving the quality and consistency of information included in property listings.
From 2027, consultations will begin on mandatory qualifications for estate agents, while further digital tools are expected to be introduced across the sector. By the middle of 2029, before the end of the current Parliament, the government intends to bring forward comprehensive legislation that will make sales packs mandatory, introduce binding agreements and support the widespread use of trusted digital property information.