Government’s Digital Property Overhaul: What It Means for Surveyors

The UK Government is introducing major changes to the property market, aiming to speed up home-buying and give leaseholders more control over their buildings. Part of Labour’s wider housing strategy, these changes could bring new opportunities for surveyors as the industry adapts to digitalisation and evolving client needs.

Currently, property sales can be delayed for months due to the time-consuming process of gathering and verifying paper-based documents, such as local authority searches and building control information. To tackle these delays, the government plans to fully digitalise the process, making critical property data accessible in real time.

Previously scattered across different organisations and requiring manual retrieval, key information will be easily accessible digitally for surveyors, conveyancers, and lenders through data-sharing platforms. Digital identity verification services will also reduce repetitive checks and speed up transactions.

For surveyors, these reforms signal a major shift in how information is collected, shared, and relied upon, creating new opportunities, new expectations, and a more digital working environment.

Beyond digitalisation, the government’s reforms to leasehold arrangements could create new opportunities for surveyors. Starting 3rd March 2025, new legislation gives leaseholders greater control over how their service charges are spent and simplifies the right-to-manage process. Leaseholders are no longer required to cover landlords’ legal fees, making it easier and cheaper to take control of building management.

Surveyors could play an important role in this transition, providing advice on maintenance planning, budget management, and building condition assessments. As leaseholders take on more responsibility, surveyors may find themselves in demand for consultancy services related to long-term building management.

On 6 October, the government unveiled further reforms described as the most significant overhaul of the homebuying system in decades. Hundreds of thousands of first-time buyers are expected to save around £710 each, alongside weeks of time and stress, as the buying process becomes simpler and more transparent.

A key part of this reform is a new requirement for sellers and estate agents to provide essential information upfront, including:

• Property condition
• Leasehold terms and service charges
• Chains
• EPC rating
• Flood risk
• Searches
• Title information
• Council tax band
• Clear floor plans
• Building safety data

The onus has always fallen on buyers to arrange a survey after an offer is accepted. Under the new proposals, sellers may be required to provide much more detailed property condition information upfront, meaning pre-sale surveys could become far more routine than they are today.

Having this information available before a listing goes live is intended to reduce last-minute surprises, lower fall-through rates, and give buyers greater confidence. If adopted, the government estimates these changes could shorten transactions by around four weeks.

Binding contracts are also being considered to stop parties from withdrawing late in the process, saving buyers and sellers months of wasted time and money.

These reforms are widely supported across the industry, with organisations including RICS, Propertymark, the HomeOwners Alliance, Zoopla, Rightmove, and major lenders all calling for a faster, more digital, more transparent system.

As these proposals are still under consultation, surveyors have an important opportunity to shape how the reforms are implemented. The government is actively seeking input from professionals who work in the homebuying and selling process every day.

Surveyors can respond to the Home Buying and Selling Reform consultation and the Material Information consultation to share insights, raise concerns, and highlight practical considerations for the sector.

Surveyors can make their voice heard through:

• The Home Buying and Selling Reform Consultation

• The Material Information Consultation

Taking part ensures that any changes reflect the reality of how surveying services operate and the needs of both independent and larger practices.

Right now, fewer than 10 percent of buyers commission a home survey. Most only discover issues late in the process, which contributes to delays, fall-throughs, and expensive surprises.

Under the new proposals, this could change dramatically.

Because sellers and agents may need to include detailed property condition data as part of the upfront information pack, surveyors are expected to play a more central role. Pre-sale condition assessments could shift from being an optional extra to a common expectation, leading to:

• A potential increase in demand for surveyors

• Earlier involvement in the transaction

• More consistent workloads

• Greater reliance on surveyors’ professional judgement

• A more proactive role in identifying issues before a buyer engages

This marks one of the biggest opportunities the profession has seen for years. Instead of being called in late, surveyors will be part of the front-loaded process that helps buyers feel confident and helps sellers market their homes more effectively.

As this information will be expected before a property is even listed, surveyors who use efficient digital workflows like GoReport will be best placed to handle the increased volume without compromising accuracy or quality.

Rather than just pushing for speed, the changes promote a more efficient way of working, backed by stronger data, clearer expectations, and a process that recognises surveyors’ expertise from the beginning.

Surveyors will feel the impact of these changes immediately, from when they’re brought into a transaction to how quickly information is shared. A more digital and upfront approach means smoother workflows, earlier visibility of key details, and growing demand for professional assessment.

1. Faster Access to the Information You Need

Upfront information and digitalised data should reduce the long delays surveyors face when waiting on:

• Lease information
• Searches
• Building control documents
• Flood risk data
• Title details

This creates a smoother pipeline from instruction to inspection to reporting.

2. Higher Expectations and Shorter Deadlines

While surveyors will have information earlier, clients will expect the entire process to move faster. More upfront data means surveyors might be asked to:

• Take on pre-listing surveys
• Deliver reports more quickly
• Provide more clarity earlier in the transaction

Smaller firms may need to review their workflow to keep up by using digital tools and apps.

3. More Demand for Condition Assessments

Because property condition will now need to be part of the upfront information pack, surveyors could see increased demand for:

• Pre-marketing condition assessments
• Targeted reports based on building age and type
• Safety and compliance checks

This positions surveyors at the centre of the new “front-loaded” homebuying process.

4. Digitalisation Will Accelerate

With digital logbooks, digital ID checks, and standardised data sharing becoming the norm, surveyors will rely more heavily on digital capture tools.

As these reforms move forward, surveyors may find themselves operating in a more digital, data-led environment. Digital tools like GoReport could help surveyors maintain accuracy, manage higher volumes of work efficiently, and meet changing expectations.

This is where GoReport can support surveyors directly. Digital data capture reduces admin, improves accuracy, and helps surveyors deliver high-quality reports efficiently, which is essential when client expectations and timelines tighten.

Independent surveyors could feel the impact of these reforms most closely. If upfront information becomes industry standard, smaller practices may need to refine their workflows, adopt digital tools, and streamline how they collect and present data to remain competitive. Larger businesses often have established systems in place, whereas independent surveyors may need to adapt more quickly to keep pace with rising expectations around speed, transparency, and consistency.

By embracing digital processes early – whether that’s mobile data capture, templates, or integrated reporting tools – independent surveyors can protect their competitiveness, improve efficiency, and continue offering the high-quality insight clients rely on.

While digitalisation and leasehold reforms present new opportunities, they also bring challenges. Surveyors will need to stay ahead by implementing digital tools like GoReport, improving efficiency, and managing client expectations in a faster-paced environment. Firms that embrace these changes could position themselves as leaders in an increasingly digital property market.

As the government launches new digital systems and expands its housing plans, including the goal of building 1.5 million homes by 2029, surveyors will remain central to ensuring quality, safety, and compliance. With the right preparation, this digital shift could help surveyors deliver more value and expand their role within the industry.

Explore how GoReport can support your team as the industry evolves. With potential changes on the horizon, digital data capture could help surveyors deliver reports efficiently, maintain accuracy, and meet shifting client expectations. Book a demo to see how GoReport could enhance your workflow in a more digital, fast-moving property landscape.