Government Consultation: Summary For Estate Agents

Published by Moverly | October 2025

The UK Government has published a major consultation on reforming the home buying and selling process. Here's what's being proposed and what it means for your business.

The government consultation highlights significant issues with the current system:

• Average transaction time: 120 days (increased 60% since 2007)

• 1 in 3 transactions fall through

• £400 million per year wasted in failed transaction costs

• Consumers and professionals lack access to the right information at the right time

1. Mandatory Upfront Property Information

What's proposed: Sellers would be required to provide comprehensive property information before marketing, including:

• Standard searches (local authority, drainage, environmental)

• Property information (TA6 form equivalent)

• Title information and leasehold terms

• Property condition assessment

• EPC, council tax band, tenure

Timeline: Government recognises this is significant change and would work with industry on implementation.

What this means for you: This expands significantly on Material Information requirements introduced in 2023. Properties would need to be prepared to a much higher standard before going to market. Agents who adopt comprehensive upfront preparation now gain immediate competitive advantage whilst positioning ahead of future requirements.

2. Professional Code of Conduct for Estate Agents

What's proposed: Introduction of mandatory standards for all residential property agents, potentially including:

• Minimum qualifications requirement

• Clear professional standards

• Enforcement through National Trading Standards and redress schemes

What this means for you: The government acknowledges trust in estate agents is low (37% according to Ipsos MORI) and wants to raise standards across the sector. Professional agents who already maintain high standards benefit as the market levels up, eliminating undercutting by those taking shortcuts.

3. Digital Property Packs and Logbooks

What's proposed: Standardised digital property packs that store current and historic property information, with government exploring whether to mandate their use.

What this means for you: The consultation specifically mentions Moverly as an example of digital property packs already working in practice. Both government momentum towards mandation and current market advantages are driving widespread adoption of this approach across the industry. Early movers are already seeing commercial benefits: 43% better completion rates, increased conveyancing referrals, and clear market differentiation.

4. More Binding Contracts Earlier

What's proposed: Greater use of binding agreements earlier in the transaction process to reduce fall-throughs (similar to Scotland's system, which has only 9% fall-through rate vs. England's 33%).

What this means for you: This would require upfront information to be in place first (you can't ask buyers to commit without full property information). It reinforces the need for comprehensive preparation and rewards agents who prepare properties thoroughly.

5. Streamlined Processes

What's proposed:

• Reducing duplicative AML checks across professionals

• Supporting AI conveyancing technology

• Better consumer education and transparency about professional services

What this means for you: Less admin burden once systems are in place, faster transactions, better consumer understanding of your value.

If implemented, the government projects:

For Consumers:

• Transactions 4 weeks faster on average

• Fall-throughs reduced from 1 in 3 to 1 in 7

• £255 million saved annually in failed transaction costs

For Agents:

• Upfront preparation becomes market differentiator

• Increased completion rates drive more revenue per instruction

• Professional standards protect quality agents

• More transparent, competitive market rewards those offering superior service

• Now - 29 December 2025: Consultation open for responses

• Winter 2025/26: Government publishes roadmap based on feedback

• 2026+: Phased implementation of reforms

The opportunity window: Agents adopting comprehensive upfront preparation now benefit from immediate market advantages whilst positioning ahead of future requirements.

The government wants to hear from estate agents. Your feedback will shape how these reforms are implemented.

Key areas where agent input matters:

On upfront information: Share your experience with what level of preparation drives better outcomes. Agents already gathering comprehensive property data upfront can demonstrate the commercial benefits and practical implementation realities.

On professional standards: Your perspective on what qualifications and standards genuinely improve service quality vs. creating unnecessary barriers. Professional agents can help shape proportionate, effective standards.

On digital property packs: Real-world feedback on what works in practice. Agents using digital preparation tools can share how this improves client experience and transaction success rates.

On implementation support: What resources, training, or transition periods would enable successful adoption across the industry.

Click here to respond to the consultation

Deadline: 29 December 2025

Time needed: Approximately 20 minutes

This is a watershed moment. Home buyers and sellers have clearly indicated they want better preparation, more transparency, and fewer fall-throughs.

The commercial opportunity is immediate:

Properties that are comprehensively prepared complete more reliably. Early adopters are already seeing:

• 43% better completion rates vs. national average

• Increased conveyancing referrals from both vendors and buyers

• Premium positioning that wins instructions

• Margin opportunities on upfront services

• Properties that genuinely stand out in the market

The agents gaining market share are those embracing this shift as an opportunity rather than a compliance burden.

Email: hello@moverly.com

Read the full consultation here

This summary was prepared by Moverly based on the MHCLG consultation "Home buying and selling reform" published 6 October 2025.