3 minutes reading time
(576 words)
The Four Week Fix – Can Home-Buying Really Get Quicker?
Buying a home should be exciting, yet for most people it ends up feeling more like a marathon of waiting, paperwork, and second-guessing. Now the government says it plans to make the whole thing quicker and cheaper by cutting about four weeks from the average buying time.
It sounds promising, although we have heard this before. For nearly twenty years, ministers have promised to simplify the process, introduce new technology, and make the experience more transparent. Yet the reality on the ground has barely changed.
The latest idea is to make sellers provide more upfront information before listing a property. The theory is that if buyers know more from the start about lease terms, property condition, and ongoing issues, there will be fewer nasty surprises and fewer sales collapsing at the last minute. Add in digital ID checks, online property logbooks, and better data sharing, and apparently we will all be moving house a month sooner.
It is a nice vision, but it misses the point. The real bottlenecks are not caused by a lack of information or slow data sharing. They stem from an industry that has become overloaded and under-resourced. Factory-style conveyancing has replaced personal service in too many cases, leaving the best conveyancers overwhelmed by volume. Smaller firms have been squeezed, and the profession has lost a generation of experienced property lawyers who used to spot and solve problems before they grew.
Add to that the extended time lenders now take to issue mortgage offers, along with a growing mountain of administrative checks and compliance demands, and it becomes clear why completion times are stretching. Shaving four weeks off sounds good in theory, but without addressing these pressures, it risks being little more than wishful thinking.
That is not to say there is no merit in some of the ideas. A more transparent system could help, especially if conveyancers and search providers are given proper access to early information. Sellers preparing more complete pre-listing packs could also improve efficiency, provided it does not become just another layer of box-ticking.
What would really help, though, is investment in people and professional standards. Giving conveyancers realistic caseloads, better training, and recognition for the expertise required would do more to speed up home-buying than any new platform or reform headline. It is not the lack of digital tools holding things back, it is the lack of time and space to use them properly.
So, it would be wonderful if this latest “four week fix” delivered what it promises. Everyone in the sector wants to see smoother, quicker transactions and less stress for buyers and sellers. Yet after two decades of similar announcements, it feels as though the government is still treating the symptoms rather than the cause.
The professionals already know where the real problems lie. They just need the time, trust, and support to fix them.
This week’s Property Matters, hosted by Gareth Wax and Hamish McLay, will look at the government’s latest proposals and ask whether this new reform really stands a chance of success. We will be joined by Wendy Gibson, who brings her own insight into the challenges faced by conveyancers working under constant pressure.
Property Matters airs on Tuesday 21st October at 1pm.
For content enquiries:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For podcast or media information:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
It sounds promising, although we have heard this before. For nearly twenty years, ministers have promised to simplify the process, introduce new technology, and make the experience more transparent. Yet the reality on the ground has barely changed.
The latest idea is to make sellers provide more upfront information before listing a property. The theory is that if buyers know more from the start about lease terms, property condition, and ongoing issues, there will be fewer nasty surprises and fewer sales collapsing at the last minute. Add in digital ID checks, online property logbooks, and better data sharing, and apparently we will all be moving house a month sooner.
It is a nice vision, but it misses the point. The real bottlenecks are not caused by a lack of information or slow data sharing. They stem from an industry that has become overloaded and under-resourced. Factory-style conveyancing has replaced personal service in too many cases, leaving the best conveyancers overwhelmed by volume. Smaller firms have been squeezed, and the profession has lost a generation of experienced property lawyers who used to spot and solve problems before they grew.
Add to that the extended time lenders now take to issue mortgage offers, along with a growing mountain of administrative checks and compliance demands, and it becomes clear why completion times are stretching. Shaving four weeks off sounds good in theory, but without addressing these pressures, it risks being little more than wishful thinking.
That is not to say there is no merit in some of the ideas. A more transparent system could help, especially if conveyancers and search providers are given proper access to early information. Sellers preparing more complete pre-listing packs could also improve efficiency, provided it does not become just another layer of box-ticking.
What would really help, though, is investment in people and professional standards. Giving conveyancers realistic caseloads, better training, and recognition for the expertise required would do more to speed up home-buying than any new platform or reform headline. It is not the lack of digital tools holding things back, it is the lack of time and space to use them properly.
So, it would be wonderful if this latest “four week fix” delivered what it promises. Everyone in the sector wants to see smoother, quicker transactions and less stress for buyers and sellers. Yet after two decades of similar announcements, it feels as though the government is still treating the symptoms rather than the cause.
The professionals already know where the real problems lie. They just need the time, trust, and support to fix them.
This week’s Property Matters, hosted by Gareth Wax and Hamish McLay, will look at the government’s latest proposals and ask whether this new reform really stands a chance of success. We will be joined by Wendy Gibson, who brings her own insight into the challenges faced by conveyancers working under constant pressure.
Property Matters airs on Tuesday 21st October at 1pm.
For content enquiries:
For podcast or media information:
Stay Informed
When you subscribe to the blog, we will send you an e-mail when there are new updates on the site so you wouldn't miss them.
Comments