Changes may be coming in respect of how we buy homes in England and Wales as the government aims to make the process faster, fairer, and cheaper. Here’s what they’ve said for now, as they enter a consultation stage:
Save time and cut delays - The government hopes to slash about 4 weeks off the average homebuying timeline (which currently takes around 5 months) by requiring more information upfront.
More transparency for buyers - Sellers and estate agents may soon have to publish additional key information, condition reports, leasehold costs, search results, before a property even goes on the market.
Binding contracts earlier - To reduce the risk of deals collapsing at the last minute, the reforms propose introducing binding contracts earlier in the process.
Cost savings for first-time buyers - On average, first-time buyers could save about £710 under the new proposals.
Professional standards and accountability - The reforms include stronger requirements for estate agents, including mandatory qualifications and codes of practice.
We know buying or selling a property is stressful and we welcome any changes that make it less so but, regardless of the process, the best advice is to speak to one of our experienced property lawyers with whom you can pick up the phone and talk to.
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October 2025