Home Buying and Selling Is About to Get Quicker and Cheaper

Imagine being able to move into your new home faster and with far fewer headaches – that’s exactly what the UK government is aiming for with its latest reforms. On 9 February 2025, the government announced a series of changes designed to modernise the property market. These updates promise not only to speed up the home buying and selling process but also to reduce costs and bring more certainty to one of life’s biggest financial decisions.

A Digital Future for Property Transactions

For many, buying or selling a home can be a drawn-out process, often taking almost five months to complete. A key reason for these delays has been the heavy reliance on paper-based systems and fragmented data that isn’t easily shared between professionals. The government’s new plans aim to change all that by:

• Digitising Key Information: Important data – from building control records to highways information – will soon be available in digital, machine-readable formats. This means that everyone involved in a transaction, whether they’re mortgage companies, surveyors, or conveyancers, will have quick and easy access to the same up-to-date information.

• Enhanced Data Sharing: With agreed rules on data sharing and improved protocols, trusted professionals can share property information seamlessly. This openness will help nip any issues in the bud, reducing the chances of surprises later that might otherwise cause a deal to fall through.

• Digital Identity Verification: The introduction of digital identity services will streamline identity checks. By carrying out these checks only once, the new system is expected to significantly cut down on the time it takes to complete a transaction.

These measures draw inspiration from successful models overseas – for instance, in Norway, where property transactions are completed in around one month. The hope is that modernising the system will not only save valuable time but also protect buyers and sellers from unexpected costs.

Saving Money and Reducing Stress

Every year, around one million property transactions take place in the UK. However, delays and complications mean that about one in three deals fall through, costing sellers an estimated £400 million and resulting in four million lost working days for industry professionals. By digitising the process, the government expects to put more money back into people’s pockets while reducing the stress that comes with property transactions. With clear, accessible information available from the start, everyone can move forward with greater confidence.

Empowering Leaseholders

In addition to speeding up property transactions, the government is also introducing changes to improve the lives of leaseholders. Under the new rules:

• Taking Control: Leaseholders will soon have more power to manage their buildings. New measures will allow them to take control over how service charges are spent without the need to buy the freehold.

• Cost Savings: Importantly, leaseholders will no longer have to cover the freeholder’s legal fees when making a Right to Manage claim. This change alone could save them up to £3,000 on some of the most expensive claims.

• Reducing Obstacles: By removing financial barriers and reducing the scope for obstruction by landlords, these reforms are set to make managing leasehold properties simpler and more affordable.

The statutory changes are scheduled to come into force on 3 March 2025, marking a significant milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to reform the leasehold system.

A Part of a Bigger Plan for Change

These updates aren’t happening in isolation. They are part of the government’s broader “Plan for Change” aimed at transforming the housing market and improving living standards across the country. Alongside the digital modernisation of property transactions, the government has already taken several steps to boost the housing supply, including:

• Launching a New Homes Accelerator to unblock planning delays.

• Establishing an independent New Towns Taskforce to spearhead large-scale community developments.

• Awarding significant funding to local councils to unlock housing on brownfield sites and to support SME housebuilders.

By tackling multiple aspects of the housing market simultaneously, these initiatives are designed to stimulate the economy, reduce transaction costs, and ultimately help more people get onto the property ladder.

What This Means for You

If you’re planning to buy or sell a home, these changes could soon mean a smoother, faster process with fewer unexpected delays and reduced costs. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned investor, the promise of a more transparent and efficient property market is welcome news.

As these reforms roll out, keep an eye on updates from your property professionals – and enjoy the prospect of a digital, modernised home buying experience that takes the hassle out of one of life’s biggest transactions.