The government will publish a roadmap detailing reforms to the homebuying and selling process later this year, housing minister Matthew Pennycook has confirmed.
Pennycook made the commitment in response to a Commons question from Liberal Democrat MP Pippa Heylings regarding gazundering in the residential property market. Heylings asked about legislative and regulatory measures to protect buyers and sellers from last-minute price reductions before exchange of contracts.
“Subject to the outcomes of the analysis being undertaken, we will publish a roadmap setting out further details of our reforms later this year,” Pennycook stated.
Consultation proposals
The minister’s comments follow two government consultations published in October, which closed on 29 December 2025. The consultations proposed significant changes to the transaction process, including binding conditional contracts at an early stage and mandatory upfront property information at the point of listing.
Victoria Latham, Deputy Director for Housing at MHCLG and chair of the Digital Property Market Steering Group, addressed the reforms in November. She indicated that clear guidance on upfront information and a published roadmap should be in place within a year, cautioning against attempting to implement all changes simultaneously.
Latham said the priority was clarity of direction, with reform delivered in stages to give the industry time to adapt. The measured approach comes as property company insolvencies reach decade highs, and as estate agents reassess their operational costs.
Economic impact
Research from Santander found that a quarter of British adults who have attempted to buy a property have experienced a fall-through. These failed transactions cost the economy approximately £1.5 billion annually, with each failed attempt costing movers an average of £1,240.
The research also revealed that nearly a third of those who have moved home previously are deterred from attempting it again due to the difficulties involved in the current process.
The government’s planned reforms aim to address these systemic issues by creating a more efficient and secure transaction process, though the specific timeline and implementation details remain subject to ongoing analysis.
