Government unveils major home buying and selling reforms with ‘digitalisation at their heart’
Summary
The government has set out a roadmap to modernise the home buying and selling process, with digital sales packs, property logbooks, digital ID checks, e-signatures and AI-assisted conveyancing at its core. The reforms also propose earlier binding conditional contracts, upfront information at listing, and a new code of practice and qualifications regime for estate agents, with implementation to be phased in over the current parliament.
Why it matters
These changes could materially alter transaction workflows, information requirements and timing across residential sales, with implications for surveyors contributing to upfront property information and transaction readiness. Surveyors may also see increased demand for accurate, timely condition reporting as digital packs become more central to the process.
Key points
- Government plans to digitalise home buying and selling with sales packs and property logbooks.
- Upfront information at listing will include condition, leasehold costs and chain status.
- Binding conditional contracts could make deals legally binding earlier in the process.
- A new code of practice and mandatory qualifications are proposed for estate agents.
- The reforms are intended to reduce delays, fall-throughs and fraud risk.
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