Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by The Negotiator. Read the original article for full details.

Rightmove Reveals Regional Differences in Property Completion Times

Rightmove analysis has found that Londoners face the longest average wait to complete a property transaction in Britain, while Scotland is the fastest region for moving home. The research highlights a significant north-south divide in completion times across the UK.

According to Rightmove, London is the slowest region, with an average of 174 days from agreed sale to completion—almost six months. In contrast, the North East of England completes transactions more than a month faster, averaging 33 days less than London. The North East is the quickest region in England for completing a move.

Scotland leads the UK overall, with an average completion time of 98 days. This is attributed to different legal processes, including greater use of upfront information, Home Reports, and earlier certainty for buyers and sellers. Locally, Clackmannanshire in Scotland is the fastest area in Britain to complete a move, at 76 days, while Slough in England is the slowest, at 229 days. North East Derbyshire is the fastest area to complete outside Scotland, at 120 days.

Rightmove reports that it currently takes an average of 216 days for a seller to move in Britain. This figure includes 62 days to find a buyer and 154 days to complete the move, marking the longest total process at this time of year on record. Among property types, flats are the slowest to complete at 169 days, compared to 149 days for terraced and semi-detached houses.

The findings come as the Government has committed to reforming the homebuying process, including plans to introduce legislation mandating sales packs. Rightmove also notes that there is an estimated £205 billion in residential property value currently for sale on its portal, representing significant economic activity linked to mortgages, services, fees, and potential home-upgrade work.

These regional and property-type differences in completion times are relevant for letting agents and inventory clerks, as they impact transaction timelines, rental arrangements, and planning for property management.