Places where it takes six months to complete are revealed
Summary
Rightmove analysis shows significant regional variation in property transaction times across Britain, with London taking the longest on average and Scotland the fastest due to different legal processes and greater use of upfront information. The data also highlights that the period between agreed sale and completion is the main source of delay, and that the overall home-moving process is taking more than seven months on average.
Why it matters
For residential property surveyors, prolonged transaction times affect client expectations, chain stability and the timing of surveys, valuations and related instructions. The article also points to ongoing reform of the homebuying process, which may influence information requirements and workflow across the sector.
Key points
- London has the slowest average completion time at 174 days from agreed sale to completion.
- The North East of England is the quickest region in England at 33 days faster than London on average.
- Scotland is the fastest part of Britain overall at 98 days, supported by Home Reports and earlier information provision.
- Slough is identified as the slowest local area at 229 days, while Clackmannanshire is the fastest at 76 days.
- Government plans include reforming the homebuying process and introducing legislation mandating sales packs.
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