On October 5, 2025, the UK government unveiled what it is calling the biggest shakeup to the homebuying process in decades—a package of reforms designed to make buying and selling property faster, cheaper, and more transparent for everyone involved. With housing often described as one of the most stressful transactions in life, these new proposals aim to turn a process many dread into something much closer to the dream it ought to be. So, what’s actually changing, and will it really make life easier for buyers and sellers?
Housing Secretary Steve Reed set the tone for the announcement, stating, “Buying a home should be a dream, not a nightmare. Our reforms will fix the broken system so hardworking people can focus on the next chapter of their lives. Through our Plan for Change we are putting more money back into working people’s pockets and making a simple dream a simple reality.” According to Sky News and The i Paper, the government believes that hundreds of thousands of families and first-time buyers could benefit from these changes, which are expected to save first-time buyers an average of £710 and shave around four weeks off the typical property transaction timeline.
At the heart of the reforms is a new legal requirement for sellers and estate agents to provide buyers with key information about a property upfront—before a listing even goes live. This includes details about the property’s condition, leasehold costs, and whether the sale is part of a property chain. The full list of mandatory information is extensive: tenure, council tax band, EPC rating, property type, legal and transactional information (such as title information and seller ID verification), leasehold terms, building safety data, standard searches, property condition assessments tailored to the property’s age and type, service charges, planning consents, flood risk data, chain status, and clear floor plans. The government hopes that this transparency will allow buyers to make informed decisions sooner and cut down on deals collapsing late in the process—a problem that currently costs the UK economy an estimated £1.5 billion a year, as reported by Business and Property Industry Eye.
Another headline measure is the introduction of optional binding contracts for buyers and sellers. The idea here is to end the all-too-common practice of parties pulling out months into the process, which often leaves families heartbroken and out of pocket. According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), these contracts would “end the practice of parties pulling out of agreements months into the process, costing families heartbreak and hundreds of pounds.” If implemented, the government says, the number of failed transactions could be halved.
Digital modernization is also a major theme. The reforms propose rolling out digital tools such as property logbooks, digital ID verification, and standardized data sharing to improve transparency and security. The government points to the Finnish digital real estate system—where the process can be completed in as little as two weeks—as inspiration. The hope is that wider use of online processes will make transactions smoother, faster, and less prone to error or fraud.
Professional standards are set for a boost as well. A new mandatory Code of Practice for estate agents and conveyancers is on the table, along with mandatory qualifications for estate, letting, and managing agents. The government will also publish side-by-side performance data on estate agents and property lawyers, allowing buyers to choose trusted professionals based on expertise and track record. As The i Paper notes, the aim is to drive up standards and increase trust in an industry that has sometimes struggled with its reputation.
Of course, any major reform comes with questions and concerns. Some property experts, such as Jonathan Rolande, founder of the National Association of Property Buyers, have pointed out that some of the proposed reforms are already commonplace in the industry. “The contract between buyer and seller is probably the biggest change, but we need to see more detail on that,” he told The i Paper. He added, “A lot of the information the Government mentions is already required but getting it standardised and indisputable is good.”
Others have raised the possibility that the added requirements could simply shift costs from buyers to sellers, or that survey costs could end up being added to sale prices. According to Sky News, people selling a home might face increased costs of about £310 due to upfront assessments and surveys, but those in the middle of a chain could gain a net saving of £400 as the increased selling costs are outweighed by lower buying expenses. The government, however, remains confident that the net effect will be positive, especially for first-time buyers and families caught in the middle of long property chains.
The reforms have been broadly welcomed by industry leaders. Johan Svanstrom, chief executive at Rightmove, said, “We welcome the announcement today aiming to drive forward that much needed change and modernisation. The home-moving process involves many fragmented parts, and there’s simply too much uncertainty and costs along the way. Speed, connected data and stakeholder simplicity should be key goals.” Paul Whitehead, chief executive at Zoopla, echoed this sentiment: “We look forward to working closely with government and the wider industry to modernise the homebuying process, so that buyers are given certainty earlier and to help reduce any unnecessary costs.”
Banks and lenders are also supportive. David Morris, head of homes at Santander, remarked, “At a time when technology has changed many processes in our lives, it is incredible that the process of buying a home—an activity that is a cornerstone of our economy—remains much the same for today’s buyers as it did for their grandparents.”
The proposals are still subject to consultation, with a full roadmap for the changes expected to be published in early 2026. The government has also launched a separate Material Information Consultation to ensure that estate agents are clear on their legal responsibilities, especially under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. This should provide explicit guidance for what information must be included in property listings, helping to standardize the process across the sector.
The reforms are part of a wider housing strategy, which includes a pledge to build 1.5 million new homes. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has announced plans for a £5,000 tax rebate for first-time home buyers when they get their first full-time job, funded by £47 billion in public spending cuts over five years. Shadow housing minister Paul Holmes, however, has cautioned that Labour’s reforms risk “reinventing the last Labour government’s failed Home Information Packs—which reduced the number of homes put on sale, and duplicated costs across buyers and sellers.”
With buyers and sellers alike frustrated by a process that can drag on for months and often ends in disappointment, these reforms could mark a turning point. If the government’s ambitions are realized, the UK’s homebuying process might finally catch up with the digital age, making that long-awaited move just a little bit easier for everyone involved.
