Selling your home? Brace yourself for a long wait! The process of buying and selling houses in the UK is becoming a nightmare, with sales now taking up to six months to complete.

New research from Propertymark, the estate agent trade body, reveals the shocking scale of the problem. Back in 2016, almost 80% of sales were completed within 12 weeks. Now, just 29% are done that quickly, with many dragging on for 17 weeks or even longer.

So, what’s going wrong?

The report, based on a survey of estate agents across the UK, blames a “Dickensian” system drowning in paperwork. Here are the key problems they identified:

• Mountains of paperwork: Estate agents say decades of new laws and regulations have created a huge administrative burden, with solicitors snowed under with forms and checks. One agent said: “Far more paperwork is now required due to increased legislation.”
• Technology failing to keep up: While some parts of the process have gone digital, many haven’t. Different solicitors use different systems, and crucial information is often still being sent on paper, creating delays and bottlenecks.
• Local searches dragging on: Getting information from local councils about things like planning permission is often a major hold-up.
• Solicitor shortage: 59% of agents said there simply aren’t enough solicitors to cope with the workload, leading to delays at every stage. One said: “Solicitors seem to be taking longer to action activities and respond than before.”
• Wider staffing crisis: It’s not just solicitors – agents also pointed to shortages of surveyors and delays from mortgage lenders, slowing things down even further.

What needs to happen?

Propertymark says the government needs to step in to speed up the process and reduce the burden on buyers and sellers. Timothy Douglas, head of policy at Propertymark, said: “It’s not new news that the amount of time taken to complete a purchase on a home is becoming increasingly tedious and lengthy. Policy makers and the new Government at Westminster need to address these issues in order to speed up the house buying and selling process to keep the wheels of the housing market turning as it’s a vital cog in boosting the economy.”

While everyone agrees there’s a problem, finding a solution won’t be easy. However, the report argues that a combination of streamlining regulations, embracing technology, and addressing the staffing shortages is crucial to getting the housing market moving faster.