Rightmove Backs Government Plan to Put Sales Packs at the Point of Listing

Rightmove has thrown its weight behind a sweeping set of government proposals that would reshape what sits on a home listing before it ever reaches a buyer.

The reforms, unveiled on 19 June, would require sellers and agents to supply an upfront "sales pack" at the point of listing, covering condition, leasehold costs and chain position. Ministers also want earlier binding agreements, mandatory qualifications and a code of practice for agents, and a wider shift to digital logbooks, identity checks and AI-assisted conveyancing.

The government reckons the package could trim about four weeks off the average purchase and save first-time buyers £650. Rightmove's own data puts the typical sale at 170 days, with more than one in five falling through. Failed deals cost UK sellers an estimated £400 million a year.

It is not Rightmove's first time backing legal reform of property listings data. The portal helped shape National Trading Standards' Material Information rules from 2022, adding listing fields for tenure and council tax, then later for items such as flood risk and building safety.

CEO Johan Svanstrom called it "an encouraging step towards a faster and more efficient property market," while cautioning that "the implementation and phasing of these initiatives will be key."