Big news for buyers and sellers, home-buying rules 2025!
The UK government has announced a new consultation into home-moving legislation, aiming to simplify, speed up, and modernize the way homes are bought and sold.
At Nikki Homes, we fully support these upcoming changes and hope they’ll make the home-moving experience smoother, more transparent, and far less stressful for everyone involved.
What’s Behind the Proposed Changes?
Right now, buying or selling a home can be a slow and sometimes frustrating process.
The proposed reforms are designed to:
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Save first-time buyers hundreds of pounds in moving costs
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Cut around a month off the average home-buying timeline
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Reduce fall-throughs by allowing deals to become legally binding earlier
The government wants to make moving home faster, fairer, and more digital, and that’s great news for anyone planning a move in the near future.
What Are the Key Proposed Changes?
Here’s what’s on the table and what it could mean for you.
1. Searches and Surveys Before a Listing Goes Live
What’s changing:
Property searches and surveys may soon be completed before a home hits the market.
What this means for you:
Currently, buyers pay hundreds for these checks after their offer is accepted. Under the new proposal, sellers would handle these costs upfront, making key property information available to buyers at the viewing stage.
This could help buyers make informed decisions earlier and reduce wasted time (and money) if a sale doesn’t go through.
2. Sellers Must Provide More Upfront Information
What’s changing:
Sellers may be required to disclose more about their property and sale circumstances early in the process.
What this means for you:
Information such as service charges, leasehold length, or chain status could be provided before an offer is made. This greater transparency would help buyers avoid unpleasant surprises and make better-informed decisions about their offers.
3. Embracing Digital Tools for Faster Moves
What’s changing:
Digitisation is at the heart of the reform. The government wants to make property data and verification processes digital.
What this means for you:
Right now, it takes an average of seven months to move home, with about five months spent on conveyancing.
Introducing tools like digital property logbooks and digital ID checks could drastically shorten these timelines.
Buyers and sellers may also be able to view performance data on conveyancers and estate agents, helping them choose trusted professionals more easily.
4. Legally Binding Contracts Earlier in the Process
What’s changing:
The government is considering giving both parties the option to sign binding contracts earlier before the usual exchange stage.
What this means for you:
Currently, either side can withdraw from a sale until exchange, often leading to financial and emotional losses.
Early binding agreements could reduce fall-through rates, giving buyers and sellers more confidence that their move will go ahead smoothly.
Our Take at Nikki Homes
At Nikki Homes, we welcome these potential updates with open arms. Anything that promotes clarity, fairness, and faster transactions is a win for homeowners and buyers alike.
We’re hopeful that these changes will pave the way for a more stress-free moving journey, where transparency and trust sit at the heart of every property transaction.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling soon, stay tuned, we’ll keep you updated as the government consultation progresses.
