Home buying and selling reforms

The roadmap will follow two government consultations in late 2025:

• home buying and selling reform
• material information in property listings 

Overview of the proposals

The UK government says its proposed reforms will make buying and selling homes faster, cheaper and easier.

The reforms are focused on digitising the process and reducing the number of failed transactions.

They would:

• require sellers and estate agents to provide key information about a property upfront. This includes information about the condition of the home, leasehold costs and details of those involved in chains
• give buyers and sellers the option to enter into a binding contract earlier in the process
• expand the use of digital tools. This includes property logbooks, digital ID verification and data-sharing platforms
• introduce mandatory qualifications and a Code of Practice for estate, letting and managing agents

The government would also publish information for consumers about the quality of services provided by estate agents, property solicitors and conveyancers.

Hear from our panel of experts on what the government’s proposed reforms could mean for solicitors.

Our view

A more reliable home buying and selling system depends on informed consumers and high-quality professional services, supported by technology.

The objectives of the UK government’s proposed reforms broadly align with our established position.

Tackling issues across different parts of the housing market, including conveyancing, appears to be a sensible way to achieve reform without unintended consequences.

However, until the government provides more detail, our assessment of its proposals and their potential impact remains provisional.

What we’re doing

In November 2025, we surveyed conveyancing solicitors to get their views on the UK government’s proposed reforms, including attitudes towards adopting technology.

We heard from 210 members. Some of these members were also randomly selected to take part in more in-depth focus groups.

Our survey and focus groups found:

• 70% of members surveyed believe that digitisation will change their role in conveyancing, although a third do not feel ready and many firms say they need more support
• firms are less prepared for changes driven by digitalisation (including digital ID verification) than for digitisation (converting information into digital formats)
• most members do not think the government should publish information about firms’ services
• around three in four (74%) members would be willing to be instructed by a seller to prepare for sale before a buyer is found
• more than two-thirds do not think estate agents should actively encourage both parties to enter into pre-contracts conditional on related transactions and mortgage finance
• there is a strong support for regulating estate agents and providing them with clear guidance on the limits of their responsibilities

Thank you to everyone who took part in the survey and focus groups.

Your feedback helped inform our responses to the government’s two consultations:

Home buying and selling reform – consultation response

Our response drew on the expertise of our Conveyancing and Land Law Committee and feedback from our members.

The proposals were pitched at a high level. We have been clear that more information will be needed if the government wishes to proceed with its reforms.

Key points in our response include:

• raising professional standards for estate agents: stronger codes and protocols would help, but standards must be enforced to be effective
• reducing fall-throughs: chains and delays increase the risk of failed transactions, but not all causes can be addressed through improved processes
• faster transactions: speed is important, but increasing speed must not come at the expense of service quality
• requiring property searches and condition reports: strong incentives to market properties quickly and cheaply discourage sellers from conducting pre-marketing searches and property condition reports
• reducing the regulatory burden: anti-money laundering (AML) checks and other obligations must be streamlined to attract and retain conveyancing solicitors
• digital property logbooks: government could support wider adoption by setting requirements for new builds and on completion of the sale
• early binding contracts: only workable as part of a reformed system where buyers have the information they need before entering a contract
• publishing information on service quality: ensuring comparative data on property professionals is fair and accurate would be challenging
• investing in AI and lawtech: sole practitioners and small and medium-sized firms need targeted support to overcome barriers and build their digital capability

We stress that any reforms should not favour certain types of firms over others.

The reforms must work for independent small and medium enterprise (SME) firms, as well as large national practices. SME firms handle 70-80% of residential property transactions.

Download our full response to the home buying and selling reform consultation (PDF 371 KB)

Material information in property listings – consultation response

We support greater transparency and consumer understanding in residential property transactions.

However, our response emphasises that material information (MI) is not a silver bullet.

Earlier access to reliable information can enable better decision making.

Achieving this requires a pragmatic framework that reflects market realities, professional roles and consumer behaviour.

Key points in our response include:

• avoiding standardised lists: it is neither realistic nor desirable to define MI by a single, fixed set of items that must always appear at the marketing stage
• staging of information: much of the information cited in the consultation will be material to someone. However, its importance will vary depending on the stage of the transaction and the needs of the buyer
• encouraging early instruction: instructing a conveyancer earlier in the process can facilitate cooperation between property professionals
• defining roles: any guidance must clearly set out the respective roles of estate agents, surveyors and conveyancers, including how they should interact
• recognising different competencies: estate agents should not be responsible for obtaining or interpreting MI that requires technical, legal or specialist expertise
• digital ID: universal acceptance of digital ID is essential to reduce duplication and save conveyancers’ time
• tailored guidance: this should primarily be for estate agents, but with relevant sections for consumers, conveyancers and surveyors
• regulation and enforcement: without effective regulation and credible enforcement, the market is unlikely to provide MI upfront on a consistent basis

We support targeted consultation on the staging of MI and the division of responsibilities.

Download our full response to the material information in property listings consultation (PDF 287 KB)

Next steps

The government’s roadmap is due to be published in the first half of 2026.

In the meantime, we will press for further consultation. This includes opportunities to pilot and refine new processes before they are implemented.

As the proposals evolve, we will continue to represent our members’ interests and involve you in conversations.

Our relationships with government allow us to influence change on your behalf. With your experience and expertise behind us, we can make sure it gets these reforms right.

Bookmark this page in your web browser or MyLS account to stay up to date with the latest developments and opportunities to have your say.