Petition Text

 

 

 

Buying and selling a home in the UK has become unnecessarily slow, stressful, and financially damaging — not because of the market, but because of a lack of accountability in residential conveyancing.

 

Property transactions regularly take up to six months or more, chains collapse without explanation, and buyers, sellers, and professionals lose time, money, and opportunities — with no meaningful consequences for persistent legal delays.

 

Estate agents are regulated, insured, and held accountable for service standards. Buyers and sellers face strict financial and contractual obligations. Yet solicitors and licensed conveyancers involved in residential transactions are not subject to enforceable timelines, transparent escalation routes, or consistent consequences when delays occur.

 

This is not about blame — many conveyancers work extremely hard.

It is about fairness, transparency, and minimum service standards.

 

What We Are Calling For

 

 

 

We call on the UK Government, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), and relevant bodies to introduce:

 

• Enforceable response and progression timelines at key stages of residential conveyancing

• A requirement for written explanations when deadlines are missed

• A clear escalation process for unreasonable or repeated delays

• Transparency reporting on average transaction times by firm

• Regulatory or financial consequences for persistent failure to meet standards

 

These measures would:

 

Protect buyers and sellers
Reduce fall-throughs and collapsed chains
Improve confidence in the housing market
Protect the livelihoods of professionals working in the system

A functioning housing market relies on accountability at every stage.

Without reform, unnecessary legal delays will continue to harm consumers and professionals alike.