By Louisa Fletcher, PropTech editor of Show House
The government has announced perhaps the most significant overhaul of the homebuying and selling processes in England and Wales in decades, launching not one but two consultations aimed at speeding up transactions, reducing aborted transactions and driving digital adoption across the housing market.
Unveiled late on Sunday evening, the proposals form part of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government plan to make buying and selling homes ‘faster cheaper and easier.” Crucially, the announcement explicitly references the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC Act) as the legislative foundation – a signal that enforcement, not just reform, is now firmly on the agenda.
The consultation papers, Home Buying and Selling Reform and Material Information in Property Listings, together outline what ministers are describing as a ‘common sense revolution’ for the residential property sector.
Proposals include sellers and agents providing comprehensive upfront information, including searches and condition reports, before marketing begins. This could be augmented by the introduction of Digital Property Logbooks and Packs, creating a verified digital record of every home. There is also mention of binding conditional contracts designed to halve the number of failed transactions, and a new Code of Practice and mandatory qualifications for estate, letting and managing agents.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the reforms would “fix the broken system so hardworking people can focus on the next chapter of their lives,” adding that the measures could reduce the average transaction time by around four weeks and save first time buyers around £700.
Alongside the main reform consultation sits a separate paper focused entirely on Material Information – the information that must be disclosed to consumers upfront when a property is marketed. This consultation explicitly links Material Information requirements to the DMCC Act, which came into force in April this year, making it a potential offence to omit or obscure details a buyer needs to make an informed decision.
The new paper also references the previous NTSELAT framework, which was withdrawn from the NTSELAT website in May this year, and notes that the consultation seeks to build on that earlier work. It invites views on what should be considered Material Information and includes an indicative list of categories that broadly reflect the earlier NTSELAT approach – which was itself the subject of an industry consultation period in 2023 – covering key information that should always be included in listings, details required in certain circumstances, and additional contextual data that may assist buyers.
While much of the language in the reforms is framed around the wider market, one passage from MHCLG’s release makes it clear that new build homes are expected to lead adoption:
“New build homes offer a clear opportunity to lead adoption of digital property logbooks and upfront information. Developers already hold comprehensive property data, making it straightforward to provide verified, standardised information from the outset. This is one of the reasons it can be faster to purchase a new build property. Embedding digital property packs in new build transactions would deliver faster, more certain sales, set a benchmark for the wider market, and support the government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million homes over the next parliament.”
This message places housebuilders firmly at the front line of digital transformation and positions the new homes sector as the potential testbed for how a more transparent, data-driven and digitally enabled property market could operate.
In response to Show House, MHCLG confirmed that measures in the announcement broadly apply to new build homes but stressed that no final decisions have been made as the proposals are subject to consultation.
Housebuilders have broadly welcomed the proposals, albeit raising concerns around practicality and pace of delivery.
Ian Jones, CEO at Backhouse, said: “At Backhouse, we support measures that improve transparency and streamline the home buying journey. Providing verified, standardised material information at plot level aligns with our commitment to quality and customer service.”
“Digital property logbooks represent a real opportunity to enhance data accessibility and reduce fall-through rates, though consistent industry standards and data infrastructure will be key. We’d welcome clear guidance from government on implementation timelines, data requirements, and responsibilities. With the right support, these proposals could help modernise the sector and deliver a more efficient experience for buyers.”
Although the direction of travel is clear – greater transparency, digitalisation and accountability across the homebuying process – it wouldn’t be surprising if the industry is cautious, if not perhaps sceptical, about how quickly these reforms can realistically be implemented.
Sheetal Smith, sales and marketing director at Pennyfarthing Homes, is optimistic, yet also emphasises that for reform to be successful, any new legislation needs to be practical and clearly defined: “The move towards digital property logbooks is good news for homebuyers, bringing much-needed transparency and trust to the purchasing process. However, for housebuilders, this represents yet another hurdle in an already challenging market. Collecting and managing verified data in a consistent, digital format will require new systems, resources, and clear alignment with existing compliance documentation.”
“To make this work, we need clear guidance and practical support from the government on data standards, verification, and rollout. With the right framework, digital logbooks could enhance confidence across the sector, but the transition must be carefully managed to avoid adding further obstacles to selling homes.”
For many housebuilders, this latest announcement will spark a familiar mix of anticipation and fatigue. Previous attempts to modernise the process have quietly gathered dust in Whitehall filing cabinets. Yet this time, the alignment of consumer law, advances in technology and data standards, and the broader push towards digital infrastructure feels different.
It’s worth bearing in mind that until any such reforms are announced, the current legislation around the DMCC Act prevails, which housebuilders must comply with. Although it’s highly likely to feel to many that it’s a thankless exercise to meet today’s requirements knowing they could shift again within a year or so, the risk of strict penalties and significant fines for non-compliance remains. As such, an ‘adopt now, adapt it later’ approach is potentially the most pragmatic strategy.
To review the consultation papers in full and provide your feedback, visit:
- Home buying and selling reform: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/home-buying-and-selling-reform
- Material information in property listings: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/material-information-in-property-listings
Both consultations run until 29 December 2025, with final recommendations expected in the new year.
