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House sales falling through

Journalist: Frances Ivens, Telegraph

ended 19. June 2025

I have heard reports that a higher than average number of house/ flat sales have fallen through over the past two weeks with buyers pulling out.

Have you seen this and is there any reason why we are seeing this increase?

3 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Chris Barry
Director at Thomas Legal
We are seeing a rising number of clients withdrawing from leasehold purchases in buildings with safety issues. This is mainly due to the seller, management company and freeholder not being able to provide the certainty new buyers require to make such a large commitment. Sadly the client looses legal fees, survey fees and in some cases have even paid reservation fees.
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Editor
Rob Peters
Principal at Simple Fast Mortgage
The rise in fall-throughs is a sign that buyer confidence is wobbling. Mortgage rates are up, inflation is up, and talk of base rate cuts has cooled. Add in slow solicitors, tough lender underwriting, and life-changing sums of money and it’s no surprise sales are falling through. And let’s not forget, the UK property system is still deeply flawed. Until we fix how fragile and time-consuming the conveyancing process is, fall-throughs will keep happening, with times of uncertainty providing the perfect catalyst.
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Kundan Bhaduri
Entrepreneur, Investor and Landlord at The Kushman Group
Yes, house sales are falling through and no, it's not just bad luck or buyers getting cold feet. As a developer and landlord, I can tell you this is what happens when reality finally catches up with the market. Buyers are pulling out because mortgage offers are tighter, rates are still high, and market confidence is teetering in a fantasy land for far too long. Add in political uncertainty, inflation that refuses to behave, and a general sense that no one really knows what the economy will look like in six months thanks to our exceptional government, and suddenly, committing to a £500,000 flat with cladding issues doesn’t feel like the dream it did on Rightmove. Lenders are cautious too, buyers are anxious, and vendors are still hoping it’s 2021. It’s no mystery though. This is a stand-off between optimism and the cost of living, and right now the latter is winning.