As an RICS Surveyor operating across London and the South East, I see the financial and emotional damage caused by transaction inefficiency every single week. We frequently reach the point of survey, only for a critical issue—structural, legal, or environmental—to emerge, causing the sale to collapse.

The current system relies on late-stage due diligence, which is why the failure rate remains stubbornly high.

We are now faced with a genuine opportunity to fix this broken system, but only if the industry’s voice is heard. The government is currently running a crucial consultation on Home Buying and Selling Reform.

The Lesson from HIPs (2007):

The Home Information Pack (HIP) failed because it was too little, too late, and often lacked substantive, quality information. It felt like a cost without corresponding value.

This consultation aims to address that failure by moving the focus to upfront, reliable Material Information. But for it to succeed, we need the final framework to mandate quality data, including early access to detailed, Level 2 and Level 3 surveys.

Why You Must Act Now:

• For Sellers: Mandating upfront, trusted information will reduce fall-throughs and accelerate your sale.
• For Buyers: You gain certainty and reduce the devastating cost of late-stage withdrawals.
• For Agents and Solicitors: You gain a streamlined, more reliable pipeline, saving endless hours of chasing.

We cannot afford to let the reforms be shaped by those who do not understand the practical reality on the ground. This is our chance to embed quality, trusted data—the kind an RICS professional provides—at the start of the process.

The consultation closes soon. Please, take 15 minutes to review the proposals and make your voice heard. Let’s build a reliable property market, not another failed system.

Link to the Consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/home-buying-and-selling-reform/home-buying-and-selling-reform