The number of property sales falling through has risen again, with 82,060 transactions collapsing in Q3 2025, according to the latest Property & Homemover Report from TwentyEA and Ci.
The data shows a 0.5% year-on-year increase in fall-throughs, underscoring ongoing challenges in the homebuying process — from delayed chains to financing issues and shifting buyer sentiment.
Katy Billany, executive director of TwentyEA, commented: “With 82,000 sales falling through in Q3 alone, we’re fully behind the government’s push to shake up the homebuying process. Waiting four months just to exchange contracts is far too long, no wonder buyers get cold feet, or unexpected issues crop up in surveys.
“A bit more upfront info at the start could really help smooth things out. As we head into the final stretch of the year, we’re cautiously optimistic.”
The figures were released just days after the government unveiled plans to reform the homebuying system, aiming to streamline transactions and reduce the number of failed deals.
Chris Williams, founder of Novus Strategy, the technology consultancy for the home buying and selling industry, said: “The big takeaway from this data, coming just days after the government announced major homebuying reforms, has to be the sheer scale of the damage being inflicted on the property industry by fall-throughs.
“There have been 312,691 cancelled purchases in the last year according to TwentyEA/Ci, which is an absolutely eye-watering figure. Fall-throughs often occur due to the length of time it takes to complete a purchase, with changing circumstances, life events and long chains all exacerbating the problem. If we can reduce completion times and make the process more transparent, these numbers should fall sharply, as industry pilots have already demonstrated.
“Abandoned purchases are responsible for billions of pounds wasted each year and the human cost of this disruption is also extensive. Behind every cancellation will be a family that can’t move into a larger home, a couple unable to move in together or a pensioner struggling to downsize. Industry suffers too, from housebuilders and estate agents to mortgage brokers and lenders all shouldering the cost of wasted effort and investment.”
Willaims highlights that the industry has been calling on the government to mandate some of the improvements needed, and believes the far-reaching consultation revealed earlier this month was very welcome as it will inject some much-needed momentum.
He added: “We’re already starting to see some of the green shoots of collaboration in industry that will deliver the transformation required, driven by organisations such as the Open Property Data Association (OPDA).
“All the different players involved in transactions are investing now in getting this right and the rewards will be extreme. It’s easily possible that transaction levels will reach a new, permanently higher plateau that everybody will benefit from.”
