Property transactions across England and Wales are facing delays of up to three months due to extended Local Authority search turnaround times, according to research by House Buyer Bureau.
The analysis of council processing times reveals that Bracknell Forest Borough Council recorded the longest average wait at 92 working days, an increase of 85 working days compared with two years ago. The council has attributed the delays to IT system issues.
Local Authority searches provide essential information on planning matters, land charges, restrictions and other property-related issues, and are required before most sales can proceed to exchange.
Widespread delays across regions
The London boroughs of Camden and Merton, along with Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council, are averaging 52 working days for search returns. Merton has seen its average wait time increase by 42 working days since 2024.
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council recorded an average of 47 working days following a 42-day increase, while North East Derbyshire District Council, North Somerset Council, Oxford City Council and Tamworth Borough Council all averaged 42 working days.
Additional councils experiencing notable increases included Vale of White Horse District Council, Luton Borough Council, Plymouth City Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and the London Borough of Newham.
Impact on transaction completion
The extended search times add to concerns about transaction delays across the property sector, with lengthy conveyancing periods linked to higher fall-through rates. The delays occur as buy-to-let investors adjust their strategies in response to market conditions.
Chris Hodgkinson, managing director of House Buyer Bureau, said: “One of the biggest frustrations for sellers in the current market is that transactions are simply taking far too long to progress, and delays during the legal stages are becoming a major reason why so many sales are struggling to make it to exchange.”
He noted that extended timelines increase the risk of sales collapsing due to expired mortgage offers, changed circumstances, or chain breakdowns. The issues come as the property industry faces broader operational challenges, including scrutiny over new technology implementations.
The data highlights ongoing bottlenecks in the conveyancing process, with delays largely outside the control of buyers and sellers but directly affecting transaction certainty and completion rates.
