As Britain’s homebuying process comes under renewed scrutiny, Moving Compared, the UK’s leading home moving hub helping buyers and sellers compare trusted conveyancers, surveyors and removals providers, warns that delays are becoming one of the most expensive and underestimated pressures in the moving process.
UK home transactions now take 170 days on average to complete, with over one in five transactions initially falling through. While deposits, mortgage rates and house prices dominate the affordability conversation, Moving Compared says buyers are also facing a second financial test during the transaction itself, as legal checks, surveys, searches, removals, storage, utilities and completion deadlines begin to collide.
The average cost of moving home in 2026 is £13,018 for those buying and selling an averagely priced UK property. Conveyancing fees when buying a house can range from £400 to £1,500, with disbursements adding up to £700 or more, while house surveys can cost between £300 and £1,500.
For buyers already stretched by deposits and mortgage affordability, the timing of these costs can be just as difficult as the costs themselves. The issue is particularly acute for buyers in chains, leasehold purchasers and families trying to move around school terms or rental notice periods. Leasehold transactions can require additional documentation, including management packs, service charge information, ground rent details and building safety records, while longer chains increase the likelihood that one delay affects several households at once.
The current debate around homebuying reform reflects a wider consumer need for transparency earlier in the moving journey. While upfront property information and digital processes may help reduce friction over time, buyers still need to understand which professionals they need, what each stage may cost and how early they should compare options. By bringing conveyancing, surveying and removals into one place, Moving Compared helps buyers, sellers and movers compare trusted, reviewed and rated professionals before the pressure of completion deadlines begins to build.
