London Homebuyers Face Six-Month Wait, Rightmove Data Shows

Rightmove’s latest analysis finds that home buyers in London wait an average of 174 days from agreeing a sale to completion, the longest period of any region in Great Britain. The national average for a seller to move is 216 days, comprising about 62 days to find a buyer and 154 days for the transaction itself.

The North East of England records the shortest wait at 141 days, while Scotland is the quickest region overall with an average of 98 days, aided by its distinct legal processes. Flat purchases take the longest nationally at 169 days, compared with 149 days for terraced and semi‑detached homes. Rightmove estimates £205 billion of residential property value is listed on its portal, all subject to these timelines.

Johan Svanstrom, CEO of Rightmove, said a healthy housing market depends on swift, certain moves and warned that the current seven‑month average is “the longest summer wait on record”. He urged greater digitisation and clearer information standards to accelerate the conveyancing process and reduce emotional and financial costs for buyers.