Landmark Information Group [1]’s latest report, ‘An industry aligned: Moving towards certainty’, reveals that property transactions are taking longer with instruction-to-completion times averaging 123 days (17.6 weeks). This equates to an 18% increase since 2019 and a 64% increase since 2007, reinforcing that delays are due to systemic issues rather than short-term market fluctuations.
Compared with consumers’ ideal timeframe, current timescales remain out of kilter with expectations, with consumers stating that their ideal time from Sold Subject to Contract (SSTC) to completion would be just 6.78 weeks.
In the search for greater certainty, almost nine in ten sellers (89%) said they would instruct a conveyancer before listing if it resulted in a faster sale. Furthermore, 75% would pay their agent upfront for better data-sharing and 71% would do the same with their conveyancer.
Across the market, professionals and firms are taking measures to boost efficiencies, demonstrated most strikingly by the cross-market prioritisation of AI solutions. Landmark’s research shows that 78% of law firms are now using AI to support fee earners (double 2024). The research also found that 75% of lenders expect AI to enhance customer engagement in the next 5 years (up from 46%).
The research also underlines a range of frustrations and areas for improvement, for consumers and professionals alike, that are driving this shared appetite for change. Protracted transaction timescales remain the property market’s biggest pressure point, cited as a top three frustration by 42% of conveyancers, 40% of lenders and 32% of agents. When selecting their top three factors that would improve the home moving experience, consumers crave better cross-stakeholder communication (47%), better technology to support communication (42%) and clearer explanations of legal checks and searches (36%).
Simon Brown, CEO, Landmark Information Group said:
“The research reinforces a trend we’ve been tracking for some time – property transactions are taking longer because certainty still arrives too late. Too much critical legal, identity and risk information only enters the process once a deal is already underway. The result is extended timelines, rising anxiety and an increased risk of derailment for one of the most emotional and expensive purchases people will ever make.
“Last year marked a pivotal moment for the UK property market, as the industry aligned behind Project 28: A Charter for faster, more certain property transactions. This blueprint for industry change outlines that the solution is not more status updates or dashboards, but earlier certainty. Starting legal work, risk detection, identity and data curation at the point of listing, and then letting technology amplify a better-designed process will make transactions quicker and easier for everyone.
“We’ve now reached an inflection point for the property industry, as our latest findings show that professionals and consumers are united around a shared appetite for greater certainty. Political and economic turbulence will always form part of the backdrop, but by mobilising around better-connected, earlier-stage processes, the industry has a real opportunity to deliver transactions that are more resilient, predictable and reliable.”
Key findings
Instruction to completion (Purchase)
- The average time from conveyancer instruction to completion in 2007 was 75 days.
- The average time from conveyancer instruction to completion in 2019 was 104 days.
- The average time from conveyancer instruction to completion in 2024 was 120 days.
- The average time from conveyancerinstruction to completion in 2025 was 123 days.
- Comparing 2024 to 2025, this represents an increase of 2.5%.
- Comparing 2019 to 2025, this represents an increase of 18%.
- Comparing 2007 to 2025, this represents an increase of 64%.
Thinking about the transactional process, what is your biggest frustration in your role?
Respondents selected a top 3, shown in order
- Agents
- 36% said market challenges
- 32% said transaction timescales
- 26% said regulations & admin
- Conveyancers
- 42% said transaction timescales
- 35% said volume of workload
- 28% said market challenges
- Lenders
- 40% said transaction timescales
- 38% said market challenges
- 28% said chasing & being chased
What would make the biggest positive impact to your productivity and business success?
Respondents selected a top 3, shown in order
- Agents
- 40% said faster transactions
- 37% said greater certainty of a transaction
- 33% said greater visibility of progress
- Conveyancers
- 39% said faster transactions
- 34% said effective use of AI tools
- 33% said better workload prioritisation
- Lenders
- 45% effective use of AI tools
- 43% said digitising workflows
- 35% said improved technology
Which areas of your business are you prioritising the most to improve efficiency / reduce costs? Respondents selected a top 3, shown in order
- Agents
- 38% said investing in AI solutions
- 34% said workload assigned more effectively
- 28% said digitising more processes
- Conveyancers
- 46% said investing in AI solutions
- 39% said digitising more processes
- 36% said workload assigned more effectively
- Lenders
- 48% said investing in AI solutions
- 43% said better training programmes
- 38% said digitising more processes
What do you think needs to be improved in order to attract and retain more talent in the sector? Respondents selected a top 3, shown in order
- Agents
- 37% said better technology to reduce workloads
- 37% said more flexibility to adapt
- 37% said more opportunities for progression
- Conveyancers
- 47% said more flexibility to adapt
- 32% said more opportunities for progression
- 31% said less admin
- Lenders
- 43% said better technology to reduce workloads
- 40% said stronger brand / sector perception
- 33% said better enviro action / awareness