If you’ve ever bought or sold a home, you’ll know the process can feel slow, uncertain and stressful, sometimes right up to the day the keys change hands. The Government clearly agrees. In June 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government unveiled a major package of reforms designed to make buying and selling a home faster, cheaper and less likely to fall through.
The numbers behind the announcement tell the story. The average home purchase currently takes around 120 days, roughly one in three sales falls through, and failed transactions are estimated to cost sellers in the region of £400 million every year across England and Wales. The Government estimates its reforms will cut buying times by around four weeks and save first-time buyers an average of £650.
Here’s a plain-English breakdown of the main changes.
Upfront sales packs.
Sellers and estate agents would be required to provide a ‘sales pack’ at the point a property is listed, setting out its condition, any leasehold costs and where it sits in the chain — so buyers have the essential details before making an offer, rather than weeks into the process.
Earlier binding agreements.
New rules would introduce binding conditional contracts much earlier in the process, with financial penalties for anyone who walks away without a valid reason. Importantly, the Government has confirmed binding contracts will not come into force until sales packs are properly embedded, so buyers won’t find themselves committed before they have the crucial information about a property.
Higher standards for agents.
A new Code of Practice is planned to set minimum standards, alongside proposals for mandatory qualifications for the sector.
A shift to digital.
Digital property logbooks, identity checks, electronic signatures and AI-assisted conveyancing are all part of the plan to cut duplication, reduce fraud risk and speed transactions up.
This is a roadmap, not an overnight switch. A Code of Practice and improved listing guidance are expected later in 2026, a consultation on agent qualifications and expanded digital tools from 2027, and full legislation covering sales packs, binding contracts and digital systems by the end of this Parliament.
There’s one crucial point for anyone moving in Cardiff or the wider South Wales area, though — and it’s the sort of detail the national coverage tends to skip over. To unpack it, we put a few questions to our team.
Understand the changes with us
We asked Aimmee Gregory: The headlines all sound very promising — but do these changes actually apply to us here in Wales?
This is the question I’d want answered first, and the honest answer is: not all of it, and not automatically. It’s easy to read “Government announcement” and assume it lands the same way on both sides of the Severn, but housing policy is devolved to the Senedd. That means decisions on things like sales packs, a code of practice and agent qualifications would be for the Welsh Government to take, not Westminster — and Wales already regulates its own estate and letting agents through Rent Smart Wales.
Some of the machinery is UK-wide, though. Land registration is handled across the whole of the UK by HM Land Registry, so digital reforms there would apply in Wales just as in England. It’s also worth remembering that Wales has its own property tax — Land Transaction Tax rather than stamp duty — and the savings the Government quotes are based on costs in England.
So my advice to anyone in Cardiff watching these headlines is: welcome the direction of travel, but don’t assume every element will arrive here on the same timetable, or in the same form. We’re keeping a close eye on what the Welsh Government does in response, and we’ll keep clients informed as the picture becomes clearer.
We asked Molly Davies: The idea of a “binding contract” earlier in the process worries some buyers. Should it?
I understand the nervousness, but I’d actually frame this as a protection rather than a trap. At the moment, either side can walk away almost right up to exchange, which is where so much of the heartache — and wasted legal and survey fees — comes from. The new binding conditional contracts are designed to commit both parties earlier, with fines for anyone who pulls out without a legitimate reason.
The safeguard that matters most is the sequencing. Binding contracts won’t be introduced until sales packs are established, so you’ll always have the key information about a property before you’re committed to buying it. In other words, you shouldn’t be signing up blind.
What it does change is the importance of being properly prepared before you make an offer. If you’re going to be bound earlier, you want your finances lined up, your solicitor instructed and your questions answered sooner rather than later. That’s not a bad discipline, it’s often the buyers who move quickly and confidently who secure the home they want. The role of a good conveyancer becomes even more valuable here: making sure that when you do commit, you’re committing on the right terms and with your eyes fully open.
How Dudden Law Can Help
Whether you’re buying your first home, selling, or moving up the ladder, our property team is here to guide you through every stage — and to help you make sense of how these reforms affect your move as the detail unfolds. Based at Roath Chambers in Cardiff and serving clients across South Wales, we pride ourselves on clear, straightforward advice and keeping you informed at every step.
If you have questions about buying or selling a home in Wales, our team is here to help. We offer a free first consultation so you can get clear, straightforward advice without any obligation.
Based in Cardiff and serving clients across South Wales and the UK, we’re ready to support you. Get in touch today — call us on 02921 320 150 or email property@duddenlaw.co.uk.