Some 32% of homes for sale on Zoopla are currently chain free, as investors and second homeowners look to dispose of their properties.
This proportion rises to 41% for two beds for sale on the platform.
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance, Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “This is your chance for a chain-free property purchase, saving you an enormous amount of time, money and hassle.
“Around a third of properties on the market right now are being advertised as having no chain, which rescues buyers from the hell of hanging on for everyone else in the chain to get their act together.”
In the Autumn Budget the government opted not to increase Capital Gains Tax for property sales, but Coles still reckons landlords are worried about tax system becoming more hostile towards them.
The stamp duty surcharge on second home and investment purchases was increased from 3 to 5%, with this hitting new landlords.
Coles added: “Despite a bit of a reprieve on capital gains tax rates on property in the Budget, landlords aren’t convinced that the government has finished its tax raid on second home owners.
“The extra stamp duty surcharge on buying these homes is likely to have convinced them that the tax regime isn’t going to get more generous any time soon.
“They’re taxed more on the way in, frozen income tax thresholds mean more tax each month, and then there’s tax when they come to sell, and each of those could hit harder over time. It means plenty of landlords are getting out while the going is good.”
The North West, Yorkshire and the Humber and the South West have the highest proportion of chain-free homes for sale, each at 36%.
Izabella Lubowiecka, senior property researcher at Zoopla, said: “There are several reasons why a home might be chain-free.
“Individuals may be selling an inherited home, households might be moving in together, going from two homes to one, or investors and second owners could be selling additional property.
“Those looking at buying a home before stamp duty rates increase in April 2025 should think about buying a chain-free home as they tend to complete much faster.
“Now is a great time to look for properties, with more chain-free homes available than in previous months. Widening a search to include new homes might also offer a wider range of choice.”
