Bielby's Blog - Why Does Selling A Property Take So Long?

Why Does Selling a Property Take So Long – and Will It Ever Get Faster?

If you’ve ever sold a home in the UK, you’ll know the frustration: you accept an offer, celebrate… and then wait. And wait. What used to take a couple of months can now easily stretch to five or six, with endless paperwork and emails flying between solicitors, lenders, and councils. As someone who deals with this every day, I’m often asked: “Why does it take so long, and is anything being done to fix it?”

The good news is that there are changes on the horizon – but will they actually make a difference? Here’s what’s slowing things down now, what the government is trying to improve, and what you can do to save time while the system catches up.

Why are property transactions so slow?

• More checks and regulations: Over the years, the legal side of moving has become far more detailed – from anti-money laundering checks to fire safety, flood risk, and energy performance. Good for buyers’ protection, but it adds weeks.
• Paperwork ping-pong: Different parties – solicitors, mortgage lenders, estate agents, councils – all work in isolation. Information is often requested multiple times, and one slow reply can hold up the whole chain.
• Local authority delays: Searches (checking planning permissions, road schemes, etc.) can take days in some areas and months in others.
• Fragile chains: If one buyer or seller in the chain has a delay (or pulls out), everyone else gets stuck waiting.

What is the government doing about it?

There’s finally some recognition that the process is outdated, and a few major changes are being trialled:

• Digital property packs – key documents like title deeds, EPCs, and searches will be gathered upfront, so buyers can see them before making an offer.
• Digital ID checks and e-signatures – rather than proving your identity to three different parties, one secure check could be shared across the chain.
• Better tech between agents and solicitors – platforms are being tested to connect everyone involved, so updates and documents can be shared instantly.
• Upgrading the Land Registry – new systems aim to reduce the time it takes to officially register property transfers.

Will it actually speed things up?

Realistically, yes – but not overnight. If these changes are widely adopted, we could see transactions shorten by a few weeks in the next couple of years. But for a dramatic improvement – the kind that gets us closer to the 30–40 day process seen in places like Australia – we’d need every solicitor, agent, and lender to move to the same digital system, and that’s going to take time.

What can you do right now to save time?

Even with the current system, there are ways to make things smoother:

• Get your paperwork ready early – ID, title deeds, warranties, planning permissions, and guarantees should all be on hand.
• Instruct your solicitor as soon as you put your home on the market – don’t wait until you’ve found a buyer.
• Stay on top of communication – respond quickly to questions and chase when needed (or ask your agent to do it for you).
• Be realistic about timelines – knowing it could take five months makes it easier to plan your next move.

The bottom line

The system is slowly modernising – but for now, selling a home is still a marathon, not a sprint. By preparing well and working with proactive professionals like Barbers, you can save yourself weeks of frustration and keep your move on track.