What Is the Average Time to Sell a House in the UK?
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Content Written By: Karl McArdle - Last Updated: 18/03/2025
If you’re thinking about putting your home on the market, you’re probably asking yourself the question, “how long does it take to sell a house in the UK?”
It's a valid question and one that I get asked the most. Why? Placing your house in the hands of the open market can be daunting — afterall, no one wants to be stuck in house-selling limbo for years on end.
If you're at the start of your house-selling journey, you may find yourself navigating a process that's not only time-consuming but also filled with uncertainties.
As a house seller, you likely have two main priorities: price and speed. In an ideal world, all houses would sell at a high price and a swift timeframe, but this isn't always a reality.
So, how long does a house take to sell? What's the average time to sell a house? Is there a way you can speed the process up while getting a good pricing for your property? With over 12 years in the business, I’ll answer all of these important questions.
Here, I’ll delve into all things house selling, exploring the reasons behind extended sale durations and offer strategies for you to speed up your house sale. Let’s dive in.
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What is the average time to sell a house?
Studies from Zoopla show that the average time it takes to sell a house in the UK is around 38 days. It’s worth noting that this average accounts for the time it takes from arranging a property listing to accepting an offer.
According to data from The Advisory, the average time it takes to sell a house from listing to competition is 4.2 months (129 days).
While these are what I’d consider reasonable benchmarks, the length of a house sale is influenced by a range of factors, including region and property type. The state of the market can also dictate average house sale times in the UK.
In a robust market, you'll usually see a shorter than average house selling time, suggesting a stronger buying demand and favourable market conditions. Other variables can influence the average time it takes to sell a house, such as Stamp Duty.
The influence of the Stamp Duty holiday on house sales
The original Stamp Duty holiday had a significant impact on the housing market. The holiday, which made home-buying more affordable, sparked a mini sales boom that started in July 2020 and ended in June 2021.
During this period, the government raised Stamp Duty thresholds from properties valued at £125,000 to £500,000, before tapering it down to £250,000. The change significantly reduced house-buying costs for many.
The Stamp Duty holiday effectively pulled forward demand, prompting droves of people thinking about moving home to take action. The trend drove down house-selling times.
A second version of the Stamp Duty holiday was reintroduced in 2022, but now it’s coming to a close. From 31st March 2025, the Stamp Duty threshold is set to fall back down to £125,000 and buying a home will become more expensive.
The mini boom created by the Stamp Duty holiday also means that many potential buyers have already made their moves. This new shift will result in less short-term demand, pushing average property selling times up in the process. If you’re thinking about selling your home, this is definitely something to factor into your plans.
Related: When is the best time to sell a house in the UK?
The average time to sell a house according to region
Now that you know about the upcoming Stamp Duty changes, let’s look at average house selling times based on region.
I’ve found that the UK house market shows significant regional differences. No two regions are exactly the same and the average time to sell a house differs from area to area. According to my personal experience and data from Statista, here’s how long it takes to sell a house in the UK’s main regions.
| Region | Average Days To Sell | Market Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| London | 78 Days | Slower due to high prices & fewer first-time buyers |
| East Midlands | 77 Days | Modern and rural mixed areas with moderate pricing |
| West Midlands | 71 Days | Several urban regeneration projects |
| East of England | 75 Days | Broad appeal for a variety of buyers |
| South East | 75 Days | Strong demand from commuters |
| South West | 74 Days | Seaside locations and pace of life, great retirement towns |
| North East | 62 Days | Quick sales due to lower house prices |
| North West | 69 Days | High buyer demand in Manchester & Liverpool |
| Wales | 80 Days | Slower market, rural properties take longer |
| Yorkshire and Humber | 71 Days | Affordable area with diverse property |
Wales: 80 days
The market in Wales shows a relatively longer average home sale time, which is likely influenced by local economic factors, rural property characteristics or buyer preferences in the region.
London: 78 days
Despite its status as a bustling metropolis, London surprisingly has a slightly higher than average property sale time than other regions. This may reflect the capital's high property values, which creates a steeper market entry point and can limit the pool of potential buyers.
East Midlands: 77 days
The average time to sell a home in the East Midlands is a little quicker than in London. This region's balance of urban and rural areas and more moderate pricing are significant contributing factors to this slightly slicker timeframe.
South East: 75 days
The South East, known for its commuter towns and proximity to London, has a robust property market with a slightly quicker sale time. The demand in this region is likely driven by its geographical accessibility and desirable choice of locations. Property within most areas of the South East are high, but often marginally cheaper than those within the capital.
East of England: 75 days
Matching the South East, the East of England also averages 75 days for a house sale. This region has a broad appeal because of its picturesque countryside locations and vibrant cities like Cambridge and Norwich.
South West: 74 days
The South West, with its attractive coastal towns and unrivalled rural charm, sees a slightly quicker than average sale time. The region's stunning seaside locations and idyllic pace of life may be a driving factor behind this trend.
Yorkshire and the Humber: 71 days
Yorkshire and the Humber, with diverse property types and prices, has an average sale time of 71 days. The region's affordability compared to the South likely contributes to these faster sales times.
West Midlands: 71 days
The West Midlands, encompassing Birmingham and other major cities, also shows an average of 71 days to sell a house. The region's economic growth and urban regeneration projects drive the region's fairly buoyant property market.
North West: 69 days
In the North West, the average to sell a house is 69 days. Cities like Manchester and Liverpool, with their growing economies, rising employment rates, and vibrant cultural scenes, likely contribute to this more dynamic market.
North East: 62 days
Leading the way with the shortest average house sale time is the North East at 62 days. These faster sales times could be due to affordable housing prices, increased regional investment, and the promise of an attractive lifestyle balance.
Does the type of house you own affect how long it takes to sell?
Location and existing market conditions also influence the average time it takes to sell a house or flat. But property type can also affect house selling times.
While region and market conditions do indeed impact selling times, using this time to sell analysis data you can see the swing in averages based on property type, and amount of bedrooms.
Bedrooms:
One bedroom - 185 Days
Two bedrooms - 111 Days
Three bedrooms - 89 Days
Four bedrooms - 122 Days
Five bedrooms - 82 Days
Property Type:
Flat - 158 Days
Terrace - 67 Days
Semi-detached - 97 Days
Detached - 107 Days
We want to stress that these times are reflective of standard estate agency sales, and not if you use a quick cash house buyer such as ourselves.
Why do flats take so long? Flats have a smaller pool of potential buyers from the get-go, they also attract first-time buyers who can struggle with affordability and cause chain collapses. Additionally, several nuisances can delay the transaction including leasehold issues, services charges & ground rent which aren’t applicable to other property types.
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How long does it take to sell a house? A practical timeline
In 2021, the average time it took a house to go under offer was 44 days. In 2023, average UK house sale times rose to 54 days — an increase that was likely prompted by soaring mortgage rates and the ongoing ‘Cost of Living Crisis.’
While these issues are far from resolved, the good news is (as I mentioned earlier), the average time to accept an offer has fallen to 38 days.
To give you more insight into the process, here’s a breakdown of the main stages of selling a house from listing to completion. Here we break down the average amount of time it takes to navigate each step of the journey based on our experience.
| Stage of the sales process | Average time frame |
|---|---|
| Listing the property | 1 to 3 days |
| Getting an official offer (make a sale) | 1 to 14 weeks |
| Conveyancing and mortgage application | 5 weeks |
| Searches to exchange | 8 weeks |
| Exchange to full completion | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Total: | 21 to 31 weeks |
Now that you're up to speed with the key stages and timeframe of selling a house in the UK, let's look at each step of the process in more detail.
1. Choosing an estate agent: one to three weeks
The first step of the house-selling process involves choosing an estate agent who can effectively showcase your house to potential buyers. At this stage, it’s wise to weigh up multiple agents to allow for a range of valuations and approaches.
Once you've picked an agent and signed a contract, you can arrange photographs, floorplans, and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). As shown in the table above, listing times usually take one to three days.
2. Viewings: one to 14 Weeks
This part of the process can vary a lot. It can take up to 14 weeks to get an acceptable offer, and this timeframe can increase in a cold market.
As you'll now know, region, property type, and what's happening in the market can alter house-selling times, making it somewhat unpredictable.
3. Accepting an offer to property searches: five weeks
After accepting an offer, the next phase of the operation is the conveyancing process. This begins with the buyer's solicitor conducting property searches.
This stage can be a tipping point. If issues arise from the searches, the buyer might want to renegotiate the selling or withdraw altogether.
Related: Accepting an offer on my house: here’s what to do next
4. Property searches to exchange: Around eight Weeks
Once property searches start, it typically takes up to eight weeks to complete them and prepare for the exchange of contracts. The exchange of contracts is critical as this is where the deal becomes legally binding.
Delays or attempts at ‘gazundering’ (a buyer lowering the offer just before exchange) can sometimes happen, which can potentially jeopardise the sale.
5. Exchange to completion: two to four weeks
After the exchange, you can pack and prepare for the completion day. You're nearly at the finish line. The duration of this phase, which will range from a week to a month, is negotiable between you and the buyer.
On completion day, you'll receive the sale proceeds (after deducting fees) and hand over the keys. It's important to note that these timelines are average estimates and can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances.
Plus, for those needing a quicker sale, alternative routes like selling to cash buyers or through specialist companies can significantly speed up the process.
These options often bypass many conventional stages of house selling, offering a quicker, more frictionless resolution, sometimes within weeks.
Why do some houses not sell?
Some houses take longer to sell — and others struggle to sell at all. Here’s my take on the situation.
Push and pull over pricing
In my opinion, the single biggest factor that increases the length of time it takes to sell a house is overpricing.
It's incredibly common and a bit of an estate agent trick. When they visit your house, they'll ask you what you think it's worth and work with that figure rather than providing their professional opinion, just to get you to sign with them.
The problem with this tactic is that it wastes your time. It's very hard to view your own house objectively and price it accordingly.
Conversations around house prices are difficult if the market value doesn't quite reach your expectation. But all pricing it wrong does is add to the frustration and ultimately means you have to reduce weeks or even months later. It's a big time sink.
The pandemic backlog challenge
While the Stamp Duty holiday seemed beneficial at first (particularly as the economy reeled from widespread shutdowns), it wasn’t without its drawbacks.
The sudden influx of sales transactions overwhelmed estate agents, solicitors, surveyors and all professionals involved in property exchanges. This surge resulted in a substantial backlog, extending the duration of house sales on the open market.
Even after the Stamp Duty holiday finished, house-selling times remained lengthy. During this period, it took an average of 118 days to secure an offer on a property and an extra 156 days to complete a sale.
Extra factors that extend house-selling periods
Other than region and current market factors, here are some other reasons why your house may not be selling on the open market:
Price too high
One thing an estate agent tends to do is overvalue your house, just so you choose to sell your house with them. This will then mean the asking price for your house is way too high, leading to minimal interest from potential buyers. As a result of the price being way too high, your house will likely take longer to sell than the average time to sell a house.
Your property’s location & size
Some areas will be more desirable than others and so this will impact how quickly your property is snapped up. Naturally everyone has different wants and needs when it comes to the size of a property, so it will just be a matter of waiting for the person wanting your property size to come along.
Mortgage rates
Whilst the Bank of England mortgage rates are high, that can lead to a slower market with people more cautious on the economic future and expense. Lower interest rates tend to do the exact opposite and stimulate the market.
Poor condition
A house in a poor condition is one which looks uncared for and will not give off a good impression to a buyer. Even if you’ve taken into account your house needing a new kitchen or bathrooms in your pricing, a lot of buyers still don’t want to have to go through the stress of this work, making your house less appealing, meaning it takes longer to sell than the average time to sell a house.
Poor market conditions
In a hot market, houses can seem like they’re selling in seconds. But in poor market conditions, the average time to sell a house becomes a lot longer, with there not being enough potential buyers on the market. Whilst you can’t change the market conditions, a good estate agent should be able to get you over the line, it may just take a little longer than you want.
Poor marketing
When it comes to looking for a house, most people have an initial browse on the internet. This increases the importance of good photos and being on multiple property portals. It’s very possible that your house may take longer than the average time to sell a house if your estate agent hasn’t marketed it very well – something you should look to improve ASAP!
The type of buyer
If you have a buyer who requires a mortgage to buy your house, this will cause delays to your property’s length of sale, compared to selling to a cash buyer.
Wrong time of year
This sort of links in with poor market conditions, but there are certain times of year which are going to be worse for selling your property. For example, if you’re trying to sell your property during the summer or Christmas holidays, you may find your property sticks on the market, as everyone’s mind will be in ‘holiday zone’.
Property is ‘quirky’
If your property doesn’t have a ‘typical’ look and could be described as a little ‘different’, then this may be a reason your house isn’t selling. Due to your property’s quirky nature, it will be harder to find someone who’s looking for your exact property type, meaning it will likely take longer to sell than the average time to sell a house.
Bad estate agent
You know the ones who they over promise and under deliver? That’s what we’re referring to by a bad estate agent. There’s nothing worse than an estate agent who promises you they can get your house sold in a matter of days or weeks and months down the line you’re still waiting for a successful viewing.
You then put pressure on your estate agent, only for them to suggest maybe the price is too high, making you reduce the asking price, despite the fact they were the ones who suggested this price in the first place.
Are there any ways to speed up the house-selling process?
It's important to understand that house-selling delays will usually affect you if you're selling your property through traditional open market channels.
Work with a cash buyer
Homeowners often ask, "How long does it take to sell a house?" especially when they need to make a quick sale. In these cases, considering alternative selling methods, like auctioning or selling to a cash buyer, might be a better route.
Transactions involving a cash buyer can speed things up significantly. Cash buyers with readily available funds often skip property surveys, which can simplify the end-to-end process. Less paperwork and the elimination of mortgage-related delays also make selling to a cash buyer faster and more straightforward.
Try the Property Buying Company
Companies specialising in cash house buying, like ours, offer an even more streamlined approach. We leverage tight-knit relationships with surveyors and solicitors to speed up the process, often completing transactions within as little as a week from initiation.
“We purchased a house in the BS20 region. It had been on the market for a total of 399 days. We agreed a contract with the seller — our client — within a month with a fair cash offer. The process was efficient, streamlined, and stress-free. The seller also made a healthy profit for their asset.”
Our efficiency is a far cry from the lengthy timelines experienced in conventional open market sales, offering a swift and practical solution in these uncertain times.
How can I speed up the sale of my house? A checklist
If you’ve been stuck on the open market and you’re starting to think to yourself “How long does it take to sell a house?”, I’ve put together a checklist on things you can do to speed things up:
How long does it take to sell a house that’s not in a chain?
Selling a house without a property chain can significantly accelerate the house-buying process. A ‘chain-free’ sale means you’re not waiting for the buyer to sell their property, nor are you dependent on selling yours to purchase a new one. This streamlined situation cuts down the wait time considerably.
What is the usual timeframe of a chain-free sale?
While the exact timeline can vary, sales in chain-free context can be remarkably swift. Solicitors and estate agents play an important role in determining the speed.
In some cases, the entire process can be tied up in as little as 10 days. However, such rapid completions are more the exception than the norm on the open market.
A more realistic timeframe for a chain-free house sale is around six weeks. This period allows enough time for all necessary legal checks, paperwork, and finalisations without the delays usually associated with a property chain.
Why are chain-free sales attractive?
The appeal of a chain free sale lies in its speed and simplicity. Without a property chain to navigate, transactions are more straightforward, with fewer parties and variables to coordinate.
This level of simplicity reduces the likelihood of delays and complications, making the selling process more predictable and fairly stress-free.
Sell your house with confidence
If you’re selling a house, you’ve probably already come up against roadblocks that have slowed down the process.
You’re probably been reading this because your house is taking longer than the average time to sell and you need to find out why and how you fix the situation. You might even be thinking about selling your house and be concerned about it sitting on the market for too long.
We hope that you’ve found the insights I’ve covered in this guide useful. But if you’re looking for more insider advice on how to navigate the house-selling process, please do get in touch.
Instead of getting frustrated with your estate agent for not doing their job properly, you can cut the stress and just sell your house to us.
FAQs
What is the best month to sell a house?
When selling a house, you need to factor in seasonal trends. The property market experiences fluctuations throughout the year, with certain seasons like spring and early summer usually being more active.
If you ask your local estate agent, they'll tell you "now is the best time to sell" regardless of what time of year you’re asking this question.
However, according to data from Rightmove, the best months to sell a house are February and March.
This time of year will be good for selling as few people will be away on a summer holiday, meaning people can focus on moving. It's also a time when the sun starts to come out for longer, helping to show your house in a better light, with your garden and plants starting to bloom.
Does an empty house sell faster?
While you may think that selling a house empty may be good to help a potential buyer visualise themselves in your home, it's not necessarily the case.
An empty house can look uncared for and start to feel cold and unloved. This, coupled with a lack of personalisation, can actually detract from your property's appeal.
A furnished house allows potential buyers to get ideas for what they could do with the house, which can make them want to buy it. That said, an empty house can show viewers a blank canvas, meaning they can see all the space which they would have to work with.
Ultimately, whether your house will sell faster by being empty will rely a lot upon your property's target audience.
Establishing your audience will help you to decide what their mindset is when looking for a property and help you determine if they may be looking for a 'project'. That way, you can decide whether presenting your house empty or furnished is the best option.
Do derelict houses sell faster?
While derelict houses can be an attractive investment for certain buyers like house flippers, they usually don’t sell as quickly as homes in better condition. This is due to financing challenges, a limited buyer pool, and the perceived risk associated with extensive renovations.
What are the advantages of selling your house to a trusted cash buyer?
Selling your house to a trusted and verified cash buyer like The Property Buying Company comes with its share of benefits.
Without the need to navigate the peaks and troughs or endless paperwork associated with the open market, you can sell your house in less time, with fewer headaches, and still get a fair price for your asset.
If you feel like this could be a viable option for you, please get in touch and we’ll be more than happy to guide you through our process.
Edit Log
18/03/2025 - Content written by Karl McArdle edited by Raphael Kaye
18/03/2025 - Content updated in line with Editorial Guidelines (Reviewed by Mathew McCorry)
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