“Getting the keys to a home you can call your own is one of the biggest events in anyone’s life,” said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. “But right now, the system that should provide support instead turns it into a battle, leaving people in limbo and putting that opportunity out of reach.”
That battle may soon ease. The Government has announced a package of reforms designed to modernise the house-buying process, potentially slashing around four weeks off the time it takes for a sale to go through. The changes aim to reduce the unexpected and costly surprises that lead to one in three sales collapsing, keeping more money in buyers’ and sellers’ pockets.
“Government reforms could cut four weeks off house sale times with mandatory upfront sales packs and digital systems.”
At the heart of the plan are mandatory “sales packs”. From the moment a property is listed, sellers and estate agents must provide key information upfront: the home’s condition, leasehold costs and the chain status. “This will help to create a fairer, more transparent process for everyone involved,” the Government said.
The system will shift from paper to digital. Digital property logbooks and sales packs will allow information to be shared securely in real time, cutting out the “back and forth” that holds up sales. The Government will also back digital identity checks, electronic signatures and AI-assisted conveyancing to strip out duplication, reduce fraud risk and accelerate transactions.
Binding agreements will come earlier, preventing parties from walking away months into negotiations without a legitimate reason. A new code of practice will raise standards for estate agents, alongside proposals for mandatory qualifications for the sector.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “Buying or selling a home should be one of life’s great moments and not a drawn-out nightmare of delays, hidden costs and failed deals. These changes will make the system faster, fairer and more secure – giving families and first-time buyers the certainty they need all while saving them time and money.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves added: “Delays, hidden costs and deals collapsing at the last minute are not only bad for home buyers, it’s bad for the economy too.”
The Government said its “full roadmap” will be rolled out across the rest of the Parliament, with a code of practice for property agents set to be published later this year. Starmer concluded: “We’re turning the page. Our reforms will bring this outdated process into the modern age, saving people time and money, and giving them the certainty they deserve.”