Government’s homebuying shake-up: A welcome step towards a better home mover experience

The UK government’s recently published home buying and selling reform roadmap marks what has been described as a 'once-in-a-generation' opportunity to overhaul the property market.

For anyone who has bought or sold a home in England and Wales, the reasons behind these reforms will feel very familiar. Transactions take too long (around 120 days to complete), sales fall through too often (approximately 1 in 3), information arrives too late, and the process can feel fragmented and frustrating.

The government’s proposals seek to address many of these long-standing issues through greater digitalisation, improved transparency, higher professional standards and a stronger focus on providing information upfront.

At Eden Conveyancing, we welcome the direction of travel.

One of the most significant themes within the reforms is the ambition to make digital processes the industry standard.

For too long, consumers have been navigating a process that relies heavily on manual administration, duplicated requests for information and outdated ways of working. The government’s vision is to create a more connected property market where information can be shared securely, efficiently and with greater transparency.

And the roadmap puts real infrastructure behind this ambition. It commits to “common data standards across the home buying and selling sector”, backed by £1.4 million to begin work with local authorities this year. It also pledges to complete the Local Land Charges programme by 2028 and to “develop a fully digital geospatial land register by 2035” so that vital property information becomes instantly accessible online.

Another key proposal is the move towards mandatory upfront information.

Anyone working within property transactions understands the impact of missing information. A transaction can progress smoothly for weeks before an unexpected issue emerges, causing delays, renegotiations or, in some cases, complete transaction failure.

Providing more information earlier in the process will reduce uncertainty, improve decision-making and help transactions progress more efficiently.

The government estimates the reforms will cut around four weeks from a typical transaction and save first-time buyers about £650, while the roadmap places responsibility sensibly, with “conveyancers on legal and title information, surveyors on condition.”

While there will undoubtedly be practical challenges to implementation, the principle is difficult to argue with: informed buyers and sellers make better decisions

The government’s focus on improving professional standards is equally important.

Conveyancing sits at the centre of one of the largest financial transactions most people will ever make. Consumers deserve confidence that they are receiving a high-quality service supported by robust expertise, clear communication and strong regulatory standards.

At Eden, we have always believed that technology alone is not enough. Innovation must be matched by exceptional people, continuous professional development and a culture that puts clients first.

The announcement also acknowledges the growing role Artificial Intelligence (AI) can play in modernising property transactions.

AI is not about replacing professional judgement. It is about allowing legal professionals to focus their expertise where it matters most by reducing repetitive administrative tasks, identifying potential risks earlier and helping information move through the process more efficiently.

The roadmap echoes this, committing that “AI-enabled conveyancing technologies will support conveyancers and improve the efficiency of transactions”, and promising an end to the “duplicative anti-money laundering checks” that currently slow everyone down.

This is an area we are actively exploring and investing in as part of our wider commitment to innovation. The firms that thrive over the next decade will be those that embrace technology responsibly while maintaining the trust and expertise that clients expect.

The government’s roadmap represents a significant step forward and reflects many of the conversations the industry has been having for years.

However, meaningful change will depend on successful collaboration across the entire property ecosystem, including conveyancers, estate agents, lenders, surveyors, regulators and technology providers.

Consumers generally don’t care which part of the process causes delays. They simply want a home buying and selling experience that is faster, more transparent, and less stressful.

This is the standard the industry should strive for, and we look forward to playing our part in creating a simpler, more effortless home-moving experience for everyone.

Our award-winning MyEden client platform was developed with a simple goal: to make conveyancing clear, simple and fast for clients. From digital onboarding and real-time case tracking to streamlined communication and intelligent workflow management, we believe technology should remove friction rather than create it.