More than a quarter of UK property sales failed to complete in 2025, according to new figures from Quickmovenow.com, highlighting what the firm describes as a growing “completion gap” in an otherwise active housing market.
The data shows that 26% of agreed transactions fell through before completion during the year, despite transaction volumes being among the strongest seen in recent years.
The most common reason was buyers changing their mind and withdrawing from the purchase, accounting for 36% of all failed sales.
Mortgage affordability was the second largest factor, with 33% of fall-throughs caused by buyers struggling to secure the necessary lending.
A further 18% of sales collapsed after surveys, where buyers either pulled out or were unable to renegotiate the purchase price following issues uncovered during the inspection.
Chain breaks accounted for the remaining 13%, making them the least common cause of failed transactions.
Danny Luke, whose company released the figures, said the data showed a shift in the risks facing buyers and sellers.
He said: “The UK property market in 2025 was a story of high activity but also high fragility.
“While buyer demand remained resilient and transaction volumes were at their strongest in years, the ‘completion gap’ is widening.
“We are seeing a shift where traditional risks, like broken chains, are being replaced by more personal and financial hurdles.
“In a climate of selective lending and economic caution, a sale is no longer a ‘done deal’ until exchange.”
Luke added that buyer behaviour was increasingly being shaped by uncertainty.
He said: “Over a third of fall-throughs are happening simply because buyers are getting cold feet.
“This suggests a level of buyer’s remorse or hesitation, likely driven by economic uncertainty or a lack of urgency.
“Financing remains a massive hurdle too, with one in three fall-throughs linked directly to difficulties securing a mortgage.”
Looking ahead to 2026, Quickmovenow said the market is expected to stabilise rather than surge, with most forecasts pointing to modest house price growth of between 2% and 4% as mortgage rates ease gradually.
However, the firm warned that buyer commitment and financial readiness will remain critical, even if affordability improves.
