Budget reaction: FTB support but no mention of home buying and selling reform

28 October 2026

David Jabbari, CEO, Nova Conveyancing

“The Budget gave first-time buyers support but said nothing about the home buying and selling reform that would help their purchases complete. The ISA fix and the new equity loan scheme from next spring are welcome, as is more funding for council housing, but incentives only work if buyers and sellers are confident a sale will go through. Just 5% of homes sold this year had been owned for under three years, the lowest share on record and down from 15% in 2006. People have stopped moving.

The government’s June roadmap committed to mandatory upfront property information and binding conditional contracts, with legislation to follow when parliamentary time allows. That is not a timeline. Consultation responses were strongly in favour, so the mandate is there, and estate agents, mortgage brokers and conveyancers are still waiting for a date. They need to know when it will be delivered.”