What home buying reforms mean for South London buyers and sellers

If you’ve spent a weekend scrolling through Rightmove tabs, following a wander through Brockwell Park, you’ll know the thrill of picturing your next home. The process that follows is where challenges are faced, and can become a bit of a waiting game.

Paperwork, surveys, and chains can all cause delays, which is why the Government is consulting on reforms to make buying and selling clearer, quicker, and less stressful.

If you’re buying or selling in South London, here is what’s being proposed, why it matters locally, and how it could change your experience.

Why the home buying process is under review

At the centre of the consultation is a long-standing issue: too much information arrives too late. In its home buying and selling reform consultation, the Government has acknowledged that around one in three property transactions currently fall through, often because key details only surface after buyers and sellers are committed.

For South London buyers, that can derail plans tied to school deadlines, lease expiries, or the race to secure the right street. For sellers, it means wasted time and broken chains.

Proposal 1: Upfront property information that helps you decide sooner

The plan? Sellers provide more details before listing. This includes things like tenure, council tax band, EPC rating, building safety info, and planning history.

In South London, where period homes, conversions, and long-established leases are common, this matters. A maisonette split decades ago or a loft conversion added years later can raise questions that are far easier to handle early on. Buyers can focus on homes that truly fit their lives, not just their Pinterest boards.

Sellers benefit too: informed buyers mean calmer negotiations and fewer surprises.

Proposal 2: Pre-listing surveys for clarity

The consultation also considers whether more emphasis should be placed on pre-listing surveys or condition information. Surveys usually happen after an offer, which can derail deals when issues pop up. Moving them earlier means buyers know what they’re taking on, and sellers can price with confidence.

In South London, where older homes are the norm, this is huge. Buyers expect quirks, they just want clarity alongside them. When condition is clear upfront, conversations stay practical and chains stay intact.

Proposal 3: Digital property logbooks and a more modern approach

Another proposal under discussion is the introduction of digital property logbooks, designed to hold verified information about a home in one secure place and carry it forward over time. Imagine one secure place for all your property info (certificates, warranties, legal details) carried forward sale after sale. That’s the idea behind them.

For buyers and sellers, this could mean fewer repeated requests, clearer communication between professionals, and a process that feels more in step with how people already manage information. Anyone who has tried to locate paperwork while packing boxes and keeping work ticking over will recognise the value immediately.

What these proposals mean for South London movers

Working in tandem, these reforms aim to make moving feel a lot more predictable.

Buyers benefit from clearer listings, fewer wasted viewings, and more confidence before committing emotionally and financially.

Sellers benefit from better prepared buyers, fewer stalled negotiations, and a stronger chance of keeping chains intact.

In a market as competitive as South London, reducing friction matters. It means less stress and more time to enjoy the neighbourhood you’ve worked so hard to secure.

Moving forward with clarity

Even while these reforms are still being consulted on, you can adopt the same mindset now.

If you’re selling, get your paperwork together early and be upfront about the details buyers will ask for.

If you’re buying, ask the right questions sooner, get clear on lease terms and running costs, and plan for surveys, especially with older homes and conversions.

South London has a way of turning “we’ll see” into “we’re staying”, and these reforms are pushing the process in that direction too, with more reliable information, fewer surprises, and better conversations from the start.

If you’re thinking about your next move and want clearer conversations from the very start, our friendly team of local experts is here to guide you. Get in touch via our website or call us on 020 3519 9121 to start planning with confidence.