The process of buying and selling property in England and Wales has come under fierce criticism from frustrated homeowners who say the current system is outdated, expensive, and emotionally draining.
We studied a large selection of online comments from people who have been left frustrated, out of pocket and despondant through their expereince of selling property in the UK. The results demonstrate a clear pattern of complaints pointing to issues that continue to damage confidence in the market.
From buyers pulling out at the last minute to solicitors dragging out transactions for months, the experience of selling property is, for many in England and Wales, a “rollercoaster of stress, cost, and wasted time.”
1) Buyers Can Pull Out at Any Time — And Sellers Pay the Price
Perhaps the most commonly voiced complaint is the ease with which buyers can pull out of a purchase—right up to the day of exchange—without financial penalty.
Sellers report losing thousands of pounds on legal fees, surveys, removals, and lost opportunities, with some suffering multiple failed sales over 6–12 months.
“We sold our house three times in 18 months. Still not completed.”
Calls are growing louder for the UK to follow Scotland’s model, where offers become binding early in the process and deposits are forfeited if either party withdraws without good reason.
2) Chains Collapse. People Lose Homes. And There’s No Accountability.
A large number of complaints centred around chain breakdowns. Sellers believe more stringent vetting is needed for buyers, especially first-time buyers and those relying on long chains.
“Our chain collapsed six months in because a first-time buyer changed their mind.”
In countries like Spain, New Zealand and the US, buyers are required to put down a deposit and commit contractually much earlier, offering both financial security and greater peace of mind to all parties.
3) Solicitors and Conveyancing Delays Wreck Transactions
A recurring frustration is the lengthy, inconsistent, and opaque conveyancing process, with many saying their solicitors were unresponsive, slow, or even incompetent.
“At least three months for solicitors to do their job — in this day and age, still?”
“We were packed and ready to go. Then the buyer pulled out. £3,500 down the drain. No recourse.”
Some suggested setting clear timelines for legal professionals, or certifying buyers’ readiness before allowing offers to be made.
4) Estate Agents: Overpricing, Underserving, and Cross-Selling
Estate agents were criticised for overvaluing properties to win instructions, then pressuring sellers to lower the price when the home fails to sell. Both traditional and online agencies were named, with Purplebricks, Yopa and Connells drawing particularly strong opinions.
“They overprice the house to get it on their books, then ask you to drop the price to generate interest.”
Others said some agents prioritise cross-selling mortgages and legal services instead of focusing on securing the best outcome for clients.
5) Surveyors Under Fire for Inconsistent and Damaging Reports
Another source of grievance was the role of surveyors. Some buyers reported wildly differing surveys that caused sales to fall through unnecessarily.
“Three surveyors, three different verdicts — two said subsidence, one didn’t. A structural engineer found no issues.”
Calls for greater accountability and oversight of surveyors are increasing, as sellers bear the brunt of lost sales due to vague or inaccurate reports.
6) Outdated and Unfair: Public Call for Reform Grows
Commenters repeatedly said the current system is not fit for purpose, particularly when compared with international property markets that offer faster timelines, binding contracts, and real protections.
“In Sweden, it took under two hours to sign contracts. No solicitor needed.”
“In New Zealand, if you pull out after seven days, you forfeit your deposit. Fair and effective.”
Time for Change
Whether it’s the lack of legal commitment, financial losses from failed sales, or stress caused by delays and chain collapses, the message from the public is clear: the system is broken, and reform is long overdue.
If the UK property market is to function effectively, especially in a cost-of-living crisis and a volatile interest rate environment, then policymakers and industry leaders must act now to modernise the buying and selling process—and restore trust for those on the move.
National Residential: A Modern Solution for a Broken Market
These results come as no surprise to us! We have spent almost 20 years refining our practice to counter the most common problems plaguing the UK market. While many high street agents continue to operate in outdated ways, National Residential uses modern methods to secure sales quickly, safely, and at the best possible price — without the usual stress.
We have studied the best sales practices from private treaty sales and property auctions at home and abroad, to develop what we believe is the BEST way to sell property.
10 ways we’re helping to solve Britain’s housing problems:
- We Secure buyers to prevent last-minute pull-outs or negotiations
- We use MODERN auctions that work for everyone — including mortgage buyers – so we can control the duration of the sale without compromising the sale price
- We advertise properties on property portals such as RightMove and Zoopla to ensure wide reach and competion between bidders
- Unlike traditional auctions, sellers do not pay for listings or viewings so no upfront fees
- We operate a No Sale, No Fee policy
- Our minimum tie-in period is only 8 weeks, subject to written cancellation from sellers.
- Our consultants ‘handhold’ would-be buyers to ensure any serious bidders compete, driving up the end price
- We use low starting prices to attract the maximum interest
- We work with independent panel solicitors who agree to prioritise our clients to prevent legal delays
- We have teams established or can fast track our clients’ interests through any legal and/or surveying hurdles
For more information on how we arecounter these problems, please see The Property System Is Broken — But National Residential Has the Fix
Choose a sale that puts you in control. Choose National Residential. Contact us today for more information.
The Online National Residential Agency: Best Price Possible & Quickest Sale - guaranteed
