Estate agents will play a central role in delivering what ministers are calling the biggest overhaul of the homebuying and selling process in modern history – a move designed to make transactions faster, cheaper, and more transparent for buyers and sellers alike.
Under sweeping new proposals announced by the Government today (Monday 6 October), agents will be required to provide key details about a property upfront – including title and tenure, leasehold terms, EPC rating, building safety data, flood risk, and chain status – before a listing goes live.
The reforms are designed to cut transaction times by up to four weeks, halve the number of failed sales, and save first-time buyers around £710 on average.
The Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, says the plans will “fix a broken system” that too often leaves buyers and sellers out of pocket and emotionally drained.
DREAM, NOT A NIGHTMARE
“Buying a home should be a dream, not a nightmare,” he said. “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.”
The measures – set out in a new consultation – form part of a wider plan to “rewire” the homebuying process and address long-standing inefficiencies that cost the economy an estimated £1.5 billion a year.
For agents, the reforms represent both a challenge and an opportunity. The proposals include mandatory qualifications and a new Code of Practice for estate, lettings, and managing agents – moves that could help rebuild public trust and raise professional standards across the sector.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Agents will also benefit from a clearer regulatory framework and access to more consistent digital tools, such as digital property logbooks, standardised data sharing, and digital ID verification – all designed to streamline the process and reduce administrative burden.
The consultation also proposes publishing comparative information on estate agents’ and conveyancers’ track record, expertise, and service quality, giving consumers greater confidence and visibility when choosing who to work with.
By requiring sellers and agents to disclose material information upfront, the government hopes to end the cycle of last-minute fall-throughs caused by missing or incomplete data, while helping buyers make faster, better-informed decisions.
BUILD, BABY, BUILD
The reforms follow Steve Reed’s call to “Build, baby, build” – part of a broader ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes and “unleash the biggest era of housebuilding in the country’s history”.
While the housing market has shown early signs of recovery – with housing starts up 29% year-on-year – ministers say the next phase depends on tackling the inefficiencies that slow down transactions and undermine consumer confidence.
The Home Buying and Selling Reform consultation and the parallel Material Information Consultation – both launched today – are open to industry input, with the government expected to publish a full roadmap early next year.
DIGITAL FOCUS
Nathan Emerson, Chief Executive at Propertymark, says: “Propertymark welcomes the UK Government’s renewed commitment to reforming the home buying and selling process, with a clear focus on digitisation, transparency, and stronger consumer protection – all underpinned by mandatory professional qualifications for property agents.
“Embedding recognised standards is essential to raising professionalism, giving consumers greater confidence, and ensuring consistently higher levels of service.”
And he adds: “Equally, it is vital that reforms are evidence-based and informed by those who understand the realities of the sector on the ground. Agents work with buyers and sellers every day, and their experience will be crucial to ensure changes are practical, proportionate, and effective.”
IMPROVED CONVEYANCING
Law Society vice-president Mark Evans says: “The Law Society is committed to improving the home buying and selling experience for consumers, conveyancers and others involved in the conveyancing process.
“We know that many feel that the conveyancing process is slow and complicated.
“It can also be confusing as to who should be doing what, and there is the risk of duplication of effort.
“Information is often not available as quickly or as easily as it should be. Making the right reforms would help address all of these issues.
“Improving the conveyancing process for buyers and sellers and making it fit for the 21st century involves making the appropriate changes to the whole system, not just one aspect of it.
“We are keen to work with our members, government and all those involved in the conveyancing market to make sure the right reforms are enacted.
“We support estate agents being regulated.”
“We support estate agents being regulated, more transparency in property chains and having conveyancers instructed as early as possible in the home buying and selling process.
“Better joined up technology can help facilitate home buying and selling but such systems must be accessible to all types of firms. A thriving conveyancing market is a diverse market.
“We will seek views from our members as we consider the government’s proposals carefully.”
