Witney estate agent backing new home buying reforms

Brendan Kay, managing director of Parkers Properties – which has branches in Witney and Eynsham – said the Government’s new Home Buying and Selling Reform Roadmap could ease transactions for buyers and sellers alike.

The roadmap, announced on June 19, aims to simplify and speed up home moves, while reducing unexpected setbacks that can cause sales to fall through.

Mr Kay said: “West Oxfordshire has some of the most desirable homes in the country, but many of them are also among the most complex to buy and sell.

“From listed cottages and converted barns to properties affected by conservation area restrictions, private drainage systems and historic rights of way, important information often emerges late in the transaction.

“That can create delays, uncertainty and sometimes cause sales to fall through altogether.

“The principle behind these reforms is therefore very positive.

“Anything that encourages more information to be gathered and shared at the start of the process should help buyers make better informed decisions and reduce the risk of unpleasant surprises further down the line.”

Proposals include the introduction of mandatory ‘sales packs’ containing key details about a property’s condition and any leasehold costs.

These would be provided at the point of listing to ensure buyers have vital information before making an offer.

While the packs will not be introduced immediately, the Government is working with the property industry to identify what information can be made available voluntarily.

Mr Kay said: “Moving home is already one of life’s most stressful experiences.

“If these changes result in greater transparency and certainty from the outset, they have the potential to improve the experience significantly for buyers and sellers across West Oxfordshire.

“The detail of implementation will be crucial, but this is the most significant attempt to modernise the home buying process that we’ve seen in many years.”

The roadmap also calls for greater professional standards in the property sector.

A non-statutory Code of Practice is expected later this year, with a public consultation on mandatory qualifications for estate and letting agents set for 2027.

Mr Kay said: “Buying or selling a home is often the largest financial transaction people will ever undertake, yet estate agency remains one of the few professions where formal qualifications are not universally required.

“In a market such as West Oxfordshire, where many homes are unique and complex, professional knowledge matters.

“Greater professional standards and a stronger focus on qualifications can only help improve confidence, transparency and outcomes for buyers and sellers alike.”