Delays of over six months common in some parts of the UK
Homebuyers in the UK are facing delays three times longer than anticipated, according to a new survey by the Open Property Data Association (OPDA).
The study, which polled more than 5,000 people who had bought or sold a property in the past five years, revealed significant gaps between buyer expectations and the reality of transaction times.
The survey found that 57% of respondents expected the homebuying process — from offer acceptance to contract exchange — to take less than two months. However, 46% reported that their transactions took three to six months, while 16% experienced delays exceeding six months. Even among seasoned buyers, 62% of respondents faced delays longer than three months.
Regional disparities were pronounced, with the West Midlands recording the highest proportion of transactions exceeding six months at nearly 20%. The North East followed at 19%, with East Anglia and the South West close behind, each exceeding 18%.
By contrast, Northern Ireland emerged as the fastest region for property transactions, with 52% of moves completed within two months, nearly matching the expectations of the 58% who considered this a reasonable homebuying timeline.
The survey captured frustrations from buyers across the UK. One respondent described a collapsed chain due to being “gazundered,” while another recalled waiting five extra days to move after mortgage funds went missing. “It’s like an auction these days — you put in a bid and wait to see if you’ve ‘won’,” another buyer commented.
“Our large-scale survey regrettably, but predictably, confirms what we have long asserted: that homebuying is not the customer-centric experience it should be,” said Maria Harris (pictured), chair of OPDA.
“The current process delivers an appallingly slow, unpredictable, and disappointing experience for the majority of buyers and sellers. Clearly, customers expect a better homebuying experience, and reform is urgently needed.”
OPDA’s survey is part of its broader research initiative aimed at improving the homebuying process through digital innovation. The organisation has called for greater government support to digitise property transactions. Since launching in June 2023, OPDA has developed open data standards for trustable and shareable property data, with backing from major industry players including Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide, and OnTheMarket.
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