6th October 2025
The government are looking to change the way we buy properties in the UK.
What changes may be coming as per ‘The I Paper’ on 6th October 7:13am
Upfront information
The Government will require sellers and agents to publish information from searches and surveys before a property listing is published, hopefully allowing buyers to make better decisions before making offers and cutting the number of transactions falling through.
According to the department, the full list of mandatory upfront information will include: “Tenure, council tax band, EPC rating, property type, legal and transactional information such as title information and seller ID verification, leasehold terms, building safety data, standard searches, property condition assessments tailored to property age and type, service charges, planning consents, flood risk data, chain status, and clear floor plans.”
Binding contracts
The Government is looking at giving buyers and sellers the option to sign binding contracts which it said would “end the practice of parties pulling out of agreements months into the process, costing families heartbreak and hundreds of pounds”.
Digital tools
Digital tools including property logbooks, ID verification and standardised data sharing would be rolled out to improve transparency and security.
New rules for estate agents and conveyancers
Mandatory qualifications and a Code of Practice would be introduced for estate, letting and managing agents, with the Government also publishing comparison information on the services of agents and property lawyers.
The government have not yet published any plans for the ‘shake-up’ but they hope to publish this in the new year.