More urgently needs to be done to speed up property transactions, with almost a third of sales taking more than 17 weeks to reach exchange, according to Propertymark.
The latest data from the organisation shows a sales market that is showing some resilience but remains constrained by ongoing challenges.
“Buyer registrations improved, and sales volumes are higher than a year ago, pointing to underlying demand,” said Nathan Emerson, CEO Propertymark. “However, transaction times remain unacceptably long, with over 30% of sales taking more than 17 weeks to reach exchange, and supply continues to soften. Falling stock levels and fewer market appraisals are limiting choice and contributing to a slower, more cautious market environment.”
Propertymark’s latest Housing Insight Report reveals that the average number of viewings per available property in December 2025 fell to 1.3, compared with the previous month.
On average, there were around 6.4 homes per member branch placed for sale across December 2025.
Emerson continued: “Although the base rate has eased and mortgage lending remains broadly stable, inflationary pressures and wider economic uncertainty are still impacting affordability and confidence. As we move into 2026, clearer economic signals and policy stability will be essential to support both buyer commitment and smoother transaction flows.”
As far as the lettings sector is concerned, the average number of registrations per member branch drops slightly to an average of 63 in December 2025.
The average number of properties available for rent grew slightly to 11.29 per member branch in December 2025.
Emerson added: “In the lettings sector, demand continues to significantly outpace supply, despite a modest uplift in available stock and fully managed instructions. Void periods remain relatively short, underlining how competitive the rental market still is, while rents continue to rise year on year, albeit at a slowing pace.
“Affordability pressures are becoming more visible, with rental arrears increasing and many landlords expressing concern around forthcoming legislative changes. Greater clarity around rental reform is urgently needed to reassure landlords and prevent further contraction in supply, which would only intensify pressures for tenants.”
The entire conveyancing system has been set up at an approximate 4 week pre exchange and 4 week post exchange to completion. Yet there is no reason especially now with direct access to HMLR and technology why the old timetable still seems right. More worryingly why it appears to take even longer. Kirit Pankhania
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The whole system is a farce. Conveyancers don’t care about their customers, are slow, inefficient and are in the stone ages. The stress it causes buyers and sellers is on another level. I have one buyer living in a caravan currently (waiting for his purchase to go through) and has done for weeks because of unnecessary delays. Another buyer pulled out on the day of exchange. The system needs a total overhaul.
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Sols get paid if a deal completes or not
no reason to rush back from the golf course or not to “£work from home”
LOL
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There seems to be more and more bickering between Conveyancers these days – just get on with it! The objective is to complete the sale, not continually throwing grenades at the deal without presenting solutions.
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“Conveyancers don’t care about their customers”
Not the ones I deal with or see posting on social media, trying to move heaven and earth to get deals through.
“Sols get paid if a deal completes or not, no reason to rush back from the golf course or not to “£work from home”
Some don’t get paid; most don’t get paid in full. No one wants an abortive transaction. Golf course, are you still in the 70S? Most conveyancers are non-golf playing women.
“There seems to be more and more bickering between Conveyancers these days – just get on with it! The objective is to complete the sale, not continually throwing grenades at the deal without presenting solutions.”
More and more red tape and bureaucracy thrown at them on a daily basis. 21st century conveyancing can be like walking through a minefield.
None of the comments posted so far are constructive, sadly.
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Thank you Rob Hailstone for sticking up for conveyancers. What these generalised click bait articles serve to do is annoy conveyancers trying to do a good job. None of this mentions, chains, leaseholds, BSA affected properties and the biggest problem is the estate agents referring to the factory conveyancers causing the blockages. Let people choose their own conveyancers (not based on idiotic price comparison websites – no two transactions, clients, properties, etc. are ever the same).
Buying a property is NOT an Amazon service. You won’t get your money back if you make a mistake and if you end up lumbered with a propety that is unmortgageable you will be watching tumbleweed whilst waiting for that unicorn that is a cash buyer. Time is required so you don’t end up with a dodgy deal pressured by ravenous estate agents eager to be paid twice – by the seller for actually doing their job and again by the solicitor for “something extra” for nothing. No care for the home buying and selling public who would likely get their transactions through quicker if they appointed a decent conveyancer.
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There are 2 main focus points for agents here. Getting paid quicker and fall through rates. Both as proved to improve by asking buyers to order their searches at the point the sale is agreed. It can also help with the difficult question of “will you take the property off the market, now”. The research show that for those who pay for the searches the answer can be yes as in a trial those who paid took on average 79 days to completion and had a ZERO fall through, where as those who did not pay took 120 days on average and had a 42% fall through.
Agents if you get your buyers to order a pack we also pay a commission as a new income stream for you.
A simple step that helps all parties at no additional cost to anyone.
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