The Government has launched a major reform of the home buying and selling process, introducing mandatory qualifications for estate agents and stricter rules on the disclosure of material property information. The reforms aim to simplify transactions, improve transparency, and rebuild trust in the sector.

The proposals are out for formal consultation until 29 December and, while focused primarily on buying and selling, they have significant implications for the lettings sector, including the introduction of mandatory qualifications and a Code of Practice for estate, letting, and managing agents.

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Upfront Property Information Packs

Sellers could be required to provide comprehensive property information prior to listing, in collaboration with conveyancers and surveyors.

Proposed standardised information may include:

• Property basics: tenure, council tax band, EPC rating, property type
• Legal and transactional info: title information, seller ID verification, leasehold terms, building safety data
• Property condition & searches: local authority, drainage, environmental, mining/chalk risks, TA6 form data
• Additional details: service charges, planning consents, flood risk, chain status, floor plans

The aim is to provide buyers with verified, easily digestible data upfront, reducing delays and last-minute surprises. Trusted sources and real-time data (e.g., HM Land Registry) would underpin these packs, with standard validity periods (e.g., six months).

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Digital Property Logbooks

Digital property packs will store current and historic property information, reducing the need for paper documents and giving property professionals greater certainty and speed in transactions.

Benefits include:

• Faster and more reliable conveyancing
• Standardisation, especially for new build homes
• Interoperability with UPRN, Land Registry, planning systems, and conveyancing platforms

Robust security and data privacy measures will ensure the protection of sensitive information.

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Binding Conditional Contracts

The Government is exploring binding agreements at an early stage, helping buyers and sellers avoid costly last-minute fall-throughs.

• Could halve failed transactions
• Reduce stress and financial loss
• Align the UK with Scotland and the US, where early binding contracts are common

Such contracts would be introduced once comprehensive upfront information is widely available, ensuring fairness and transparency.

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Streamlining Transactions

Conveyancing has become 60% longer than in 2007, partly due to duplicated Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks and increasingly complex property titles.

The Government plans to:

• Streamline AML checks to avoid repeated verifications
• Support AI conveyancing tools to save time
• Simplify conveyancing processes to reduce delays

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Mandatory Qualifications and Professional Standards

The reforms propose mandatory qualifications and a Code of Practice for estate, letting, and managing agents.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “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.”

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Industry Support

The proposals have received widespread backing from property portals, membership bodies, and professional organisations.

Rightmove

• Johan Svanstrom, CEO:  “People are spending seven long and often painful months to move home. We welcome today’s announcement aiming to drive much-needed change and modernisation. Speed, connected data, and stakeholder simplicity should be key goals. We look forward to working with the Government to improve the process.”

• Jason Charles, Head of Events and Education, highlighted Rightmove’s agent qualification programme, helping agents prepare for potential mandatory legislation.
• Christian Balshen, Director of Agency Partnerships, noted:  “We’ve shared the experiences of agents and home-movers with government. A consultation could help solve long-standing challenges in the chain process and standardise material information collection.”

Zoopla

• CEO Paul Whitehead said: “The home buying process remains too long, too complex, and has seen far less digital innovation than many other sectors. Greater transparency, binding contracts, and digital solutions could unlock demand and reduce failed transactions. We are committed to building a modern, trusted property ecosystem in collaboration with government and industry.”

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

• CEO Justin Young added: “RICS has long supported reform of the home buying and selling process. The Government’s consultation is a vital step forward. By embedding transparency, professionalism, and innovation, we can help build a housing market that works better for everyone.”

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Next Steps

• Full roadmap for reform expected in the new year
• Consultation period runs until 29 December
• Focus on digitisation, transparency, professional standards, and reducing failed transactions

The reforms aim to create a simpler, faster, and more trusted home buying and lettings process, benefiting buyers, sellers, and property professionals alike.