The government's June 2026 homebuying and selling roadmap sets out a staged programme of reform. Its central idea is that buyers should receive important information earlier, before they commit time and money to a transaction.
Information before commitment
The roadmap proposes legislation requiring sales packs before a property is listed, including searches and a condition report. It also supports digital property logbooks and better sharing of information between professionals. These are planned reforms, with legislative measures dependent on parliamentary time.
Earlier binding agreements
The government intends to introduce binding conditional contracts after sales packs are established. Work on exceptions, penalties and dispute arrangements is part of the programme. The sequencing matters: people should understand the property before becoming committed.
The roadmap also sets out plans for a Code of Practice and a consultation on mandatory qualifications for estate and letting agents. An announcement of future requirements does not itself make every element an immediate legal obligation.
What to do during a purchase
For an ordinary transaction, GOV.UK explains that exchanging contracts makes the agreement legally binding. Ask your conveyancer how this applies to your transaction and whether any separate reservation agreement changes your commitments.
Keep a list of unanswered questions about the property and ask who will resolve each one. Request clear explanations of proposed charges and the point at which money becomes non-refundable. Do not assume a reform announcement removes the need for legal checks or a survey appropriate to the property.
Editorial review: 16 October 2026. This article explains the June roadmap; it does not present every proposed measure as commenced law. The original publication date is retained.