Almost eight in 10 property professionals believe proposed homebuying reforms will deliver positive change, according to a new industry poll. Countrywide Surveying Services (CSS) found 77% of respondents were confident about the impact of reform.
Of those surveyed, 18% were “very confident” and 59% were “somewhat confident”. A further 21% said they were not very confident. Just 2% believed the proposed changes would never happen.
Webinar examines upfront information
CSS conducted the poll during a webinar examining whether upfront property information could improve the buying and selling process. The discussion focused on providing information earlier in a transaction. It also considered how reforms could reduce delays and improve certainty.
Attendees were also asked about the appointment of Andy Burnham and its potential impact on the housing market. Some 36% believed it made positive change more likely. By contrast, 16% thought it made change less likely. Almost half – 48% – said the appointment made no difference.
More than 300 professionals attend
More than 300 property professionals attended the webinar. They included surveyors, mortgage brokers and lenders. The panel featured representatives from CSS, RICS, Home Surveying Services and Landmark Information Group.
‘The debate has moved on’
Matthew Cumber, managing director at Countrywide Surveying Services, said the results suggested the industry’s focus was shifting towards implementation.
“What these findings suggest to me is that the debate has moved on,” he said. “There seems to be broad acceptance that the homebuying process can work better, but the more important question now is how we turn that ambition into something that makes a genuine difference to transactions.”
Cumber said bringing existing checks and documents forward would only go so far. “The greater opportunity lies in making sure useful information is available early enough, in a format that can be shared and relied upon by the different parties involved, rather than repeatedly requested as a transaction progresses.”
He said meaningful reform would require different parts of the property industry to work together. “That requires lenders, surveyors, conveyancers, estate agents, brokers and technology providers to think about the process as a whole rather than improving individual parts in isolation.
“If reform can achieve that, there is a real opportunity to reduce avoidable delays while giving buyers greater clarity about the property they are purchasing.”
