The government has announced a significant package of reforms designed to overhaul the home buying and selling process in England. For anyone currently on the market — or thinking about making a move — it’s worth understanding what’s changing and why it matters.
What’s being proposed?
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) unveiled the reforms on 19 June 2026, describing them as the biggest shake-up of the homebuying process in a generation. Here are the key changes:
- Upfront sales packs — Sellers and estate agents will be required to provide a sales pack at the point of listing. This will include the property’s condition, leasehold costs, and chain status, so buyers have the information they need before making an offer.
- Earlier binding agreements — Transactions will become legally binding much sooner — from the point an offer is accepted. If either party pulls out without valid reason, they face a financial penalty. This is designed to reduce the risk of late-stage fall-throughs and gazumping.
- Digital identity checks — Buyers and sellers will no longer need to repeatedly prove their identity to multiple professionals. A single trusted digital verification will be accepted across the process, cutting duplication and delays.
- AI-assisted conveyancing — The government is backing the use of AI tools to help conveyancers work more efficiently, reduce paperwork, and speed up transactions.
- Digital property logbooks — Property information will be stored and shared digitally in real time between buyers, sellers, and professionals, replacing slow and unreliable paper-based systems.
- New code of practice for estate agents — Minimum standards will be introduced later in 2026, followed by a consultation on estate agent qualifications in 2027.
- Electronic signatures — Documents can be signed digitally throughout the process, removing another common source of delay.
The government estimates these changes could cut around four weeks from the average transaction time and save first-time buyers an average of £650.
Why does this matter?
Anyone who has been through a property transaction will know how stressful the current process can be. Weeks — sometimes months — can pass between an offer being accepted and exchange of contracts, with little certainty on either side. Fall-throughs are common, costly, and often avoidable.
Industry figures broadly welcomed the announcement. Nationwide’s Group Director of Mortgages described the proposals as a major milestone in the efforts to simplify and streamline the homebuying process, noting that giving buyers key information upfront at the point a property is listed has the potential to transform the process.
What does it mean for sellers?
One of the more significant shifts is the expectation that sellers will need to prepare more information before going to market — likely including a digital property pack and, in some cases, a survey. This is a departure from the current norm where much of this information is gathered reactively once a buyer is found.
The upside is that transactions should move faster once a sale is agreed, and there’s less risk of a deal falling apart due to issues that could have been identified earlier. The downside, as some in the industry have noted, is that sellers will need to invest more time and potentially money before listing.
Thinking of moving?
If you’re considering putting your property on the market — or starting your search for a new home — it’s a good time to speak to an experienced agent who can guide you through the current process while keeping an eye on what’s coming. At Benwell Daykin estate agents, we’re here to help at every stage. Get in touch with our team to find out more.