Homebuyers in London are suffering the longest wait times to get their deals over the line, new data shows.

And Islington in north London is the slowest area with an agonising five months’ delay before they get the keys, according to figures from quick-buying platform OneDome.

Protracted

The property firm analysed transactions during 2024, which revealed that the Capital is home to the most protracted completion times in the country, with the London Boroughs of Bexley (133 days), Greenwich (129 days) and Redbridge (126 days) all featuring in the top five.

In stark contrast, buyers in Tower Hamlets, East London, completed transactions in just 62 days on average last year, which is the fastest in the UK and more than twice as quick as those in Islington.

Fast-moving

Outside of London, Swansea stands out for its fast-moving property market, with home purchases completing in just 67 days.

Overall, Wales boasts some of the quickest transaction times in the UK, at 101 days. The West Midlands records the slowest completion times in the country outside of London, at 113 days. Property sales in the UK took on average 108 days, or just over three months, to complete.

Transaction times in the UK have only modestly improved in recent years.”

Babek Ismayil, Founder and CEO at OneDome (main picture), says: “Sadly, in some parts of the country, they [buyers] can face a wait of several months due to complex property chains, delays with searches and lots of legal wrangling among all those involved.

“Transaction times in the UK have only modestly improved in recent years and an average of 15 weeks is still too long,” he says.

“The Government talks about speeding up the transaction process through digitisation, but that could take years, and buyers need change now.”

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