Why do House Sales take so long in the UK?

Anyone who’s ever bought or sold property in the UK will tell you one thing above all: it takes far too long. With average property transactions lasting roughly 179 days—almost six months—the UK sits far behind international counterparts, notably the USA, where the process takes around 53 days. 

But where does this inertia come from? Why exactly is buying or selling a home in the UK such a lengthy ordeal, compared to pretty much any other rich nation? And, crucially, could things finally improve in the near future?

This isn’t just a frustration—it’s a significant issue that impacts sellers and buyers alike. In this article I want to unpack some of the reasons behind the UK’s lacklustre transaction process, explore the impacts and discuss whether we might soon see meaningful improvements.

The Reality of UK Property Sales

UK property transactions have historically been a marathon rather than a sprint and there’s huge variance regionally. London and parts of the South East often experience even more drawn-out processes due to higher market demand and complex property chains. Whilst delays can vary widely, nowhere is immune.

It’s no surprise that buyers and sellers are often left exasperated by how long it takes because the processes involved haven’t evolved with the market. Estate agents in the UK are still largely dependent on systems designed decades ago. The problem isn’t one-dimensional but rather a tangled web of delays in conveyancing, surveys, mortgage approvals, and especially property chains, each adding weeks—sometimes months—to the timeline.

The picture isn’t a straightforward one, with no silver bullet. Data from the Landmark Information Group tells us that the average 2021 home sale took 145 days to complete, 49% longer than in 2007, so the picture is a worsening one. 

“The Legal Services Act This was meant to inject much-needed innovation into the legal industry, with the hope of leading to more efficient ways of delivering legal services,” says Mike Holden, MD of Landmark Valuation Services. “But the story the data tells points to a very different outcome to the intended one. Certainly, from a conveyancer’s perspective, it didn’t work. Why?”

Conveyancing is routinely cited as a major delay factor. Traditional, paper-heavy processes and staff shortages plague the sector, slowing transactions significantly. Conveyancing is incredibly labour-intensive and overly manual, with solicitors juggling excessive workloads and relying on outdated methods. This is where adoption of digital conveyancing platforms and digital technologies like AI more widely comes can help reduce time to completion.

“There are issues with recruitment and the retention of lawyers, plus there are examples of poor capacity management,” says David Jabbari, CEO of Muve, which is launching a ‘Lightspeed’ brand in 2025 aimed at using AI and automation to drastically reduce transaction times. 

The issues don’t stop at the conveyancing process. Overly long or complex property chains compound delays with just one transaction stalling, sending ripples down the chain, impacting everyone involved. Estate agents have told me that they’ve seen deals collapse entirely due to relatively minor issues in a chain.

Surveys and valuations are another bottleneck. Surveyor shortages and conflicting reports can all stall negotiations. Mortgage approvals, too, are far from speedy in the UK. Lenders now operate under stricter criteria, meaning increased scrutiny and numerous checks, even when buyers are perfectly qualified. The Negotiator has suggested this is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, with “fraudulent transactions representing [sic] a tiny percentage of the business”. 

The Hidden Costs of Slow Transactions

For estate agents, delays aren’t just inconvenient—they damage relationships and harm business performance. There are noises from the conveyancing sector for reform too. “Many firms are already turning to solutions like outsourced legal support and leveraging tech to handle repetitive tasks, aiming to speed up workflows,” says legal outsourcing firm Auxilio. “However, broad reforms, particularly within the Land Registry, are needed to keep pace with the increasing demands of the property market”​.

For sellers, financial and emotional pressures mount over time. Ongoing costs such as mortgages, council tax, and property maintenance pile up, while personal plans are delayed or derailed. Buyers, equally frustrated, often face unexpected financial burdens, from rising interest rates to expiring mortgage offers. A current pressure – at the time of writing – is the cliff edge buyers face with stamp duty deadline due in April 2025, meaning delays could cost some, tens of thousands.

But delays inevitably cost industry professionals financially and reputationally, from estate agents to solicitors, with clients often blaming them, despite delays typically being out of their direct control.

“From an estate agency viewpoint, the lack of understanding and transparency around what is causing the delays – and their limited ability to influence the issue at hand – is creating a widening gap between expectation and reality,” says MD of Landmark Estate Agency Services, Ben Robinson.

Could 2025 Finally Mark the Turning Point?

The pressing question is whether things will ever get better. Recent developments suggest cautious optimism is justified. Experts increasingly point to 2025 as a potential turning point, driven by technology adoption, legislative change, and shifting industry attitudes.

Technology is leading the charge. Proptech innovations like digital conveyancing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain-based property records could revolutionise processes. Experts believe technology could halve transaction times by 2025 with digital conveyancing solutions, much like Jabbari’s ‘Lightspeed’ offering, already streamlining communication and speeding up document transfers significantly.

Legislative reforms could also transform the industry. Following years of lobbying from frustrated agents and buyers alike, initiatives such as compulsory upfront property information packs, forcing sellers to provide comprehensive property details right from listing, could reduce uncertainty and eliminate weeks of wasted time. 

Estate agents themselves are central to these changes. Those proactively embracing digital transformation and improved client communications will likely reap the most benefit. Agents who invest in technology now won’t just speed up sales; they’ll significantly enhance their competitive advantage, attracting frustrated clients who crave quicker transactions.

Yet, optimism remains cautious. Implementing widespread change isn’t without hurdles—especially in an industry historically resistant to rapid evolution. Industry experts broadly agree that meaningful progress by 2025 hinges on combined efforts across technology providers, estate agents, conveyancers, and policymakers. The good news is that there now seem to be a growing recognition of the scale of the problem and a momentum to address it.

A Call for Action: Estate Agents Must Lead the Change

Industry-wide willingness to change is critical. Estate agents can—and indeed should—lead this charge by embracing digital solutions and pushing conveyancers and financial institutions towards greater efficiency. If these factors align, 2025 could indeed mark the year property transactions in the UK become substantially quicker, less stressful, and ultimately more beneficial for everyone involved.

Estate agents are uniquely positioned to initiate change. Proactive adoption of digital technologies, better collaboration, and transparent communication will directly impact transaction timelines. As agents modernise their operations, their clients benefit directly through clearer timelines and reduced stress.

The opportunity for agents to position themselves as innovative leaders is significant. Those who embrace change today will become the benchmark agencies of tomorrow, winning trust, loyalty, and increased business in an evolving market landscape. After all, the promise of quicker transactions is not just good news for clients—it’s fundamentally good for business.

At Superb Digital, we help estate agents boost their online presence and streamline digital processes, positioning them perfectly for industry shifts and market challenges ahead. Why not book a discovery call today to see how we can help your agency grow and prosper.