Seven in 10 first-time buyers found buying a home frustrating, Skipton research finds
Skipton research finds 70% of first-time buyers found the home-buying process frustrating. We look at what causes delays and uncertainty, and what the government says its reforms will change.
Key points
- Skipton Building Society found 70% of first-time buyers found buying and moving into their first home frustrating.
- Uncertain completion dates and fear of the purchase collapsing each caused stress for 22% of buyers.
- The government says a purchase takes around 120 days on average and one in three sales falls through.
- Reforms due from later this year to 2030 aim to cut buying times by around four weeks and save first-time buyers £650 on average.
Seven in 10 first-time buyers (70%) found purchasing and moving into their first home frustrating, according to research from Skipton Building Society reported in October 2026. The findings put the experience of first-time buyers in focus ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October. The reports of the research do not say how many people were surveyed.
Jen Lloyd, Skipton’s head of mortgage products and proposition, said buyers “are incredibly motivated” but “face a disproportionate number of barriers – from saving for a deposit on one income to shouldering all the upfront costs alone”.
First-time buyer frustration in the housing market: what the figures show
Skipton’s research suggests uncertainty, rather than any single cost, is what unsettles buyers most. Uncertainty over completion dates and worry about the purchase falling through each affected 22% of buyers, more than double the share worried by last-minute changes or uncertainty about payments.
| Source of worry or frustration for first-time buyers | Share of buyers |
|---|---|
| Found the process frustrating overall | 70% |
| Uncertain completion dates | 22% |
| Purchase falling through | 22% |
| Last-minute changes | 10% |
| Uncertainty about payments | 10% |
Separate Skipton research on women buying alone found nearly a third felt overwhelmed by the process. More than half (53%) worried about the financial strain if their income changed unexpectedly.
What is behind home buying process delays and uncertainty
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) says a purchase takes an average of 120 days once an offer is accepted, and that transaction times have risen by 60% since 2007. It also says around one in three transactions fails, costing buyers and sellers about £400m a year. Rightmove puts the average at 170 days and says over one in five transactions initially falls through. The sources do not explain why the figures differ.
| Measure | Government | Rightmove |
|---|---|---|
| Average time to complete | 120 days | 170 days |
| Sales that fall through | About 1 in 3 | Over 1 in 5 initially |
In its consultation, MHCLG said a key reason is that buyers and professionals lack the right information at the right time. Problems such as damp, or missing planning permission for alterations, often emerge only after an offer is accepted. It also pointed to paper-based steps and disconnected systems, months without updates, and no clearly defined standards for some property professionals.
What the reforms mean for first-time buyers
On Friday 19 June 2026 the government announced reforms it says will cut buying times by around four weeks and save first-time buyers an average of £650. They include upfront sales packs covering a home’s condition, leasehold costs and chain status, earlier binding agreements, and digital tools such as identity checks and electronic signatures. Housing Secretary Steve Reed said buying a home should not be “a drawn-out nightmare of delays, hidden costs, and failed deals”.
As an illustration, our own arithmetic: a four-week cut applied to the government’s 120-day average would bring a typical purchase to about 92 days. Applied to Rightmove’s 170 days, it would leave about 142. The government has not published that calculation.
The changes will not arrive at once. MHCLG says they will be introduced from later this year through to 2030, starting with a non-statutory Code of Practice and a Charter for property agents, followed by a consultation on mandatory qualifications for estate agents and work with industry on binding contracts. It says some changes will take time to roll out, but improvements will start to happen as reforms are introduced.
In the meantime, Skipton advises budgeting for the cluster of costs that can arrive together: rent overlap, removals, legal fees, furnishings and set-up costs. Ms Lloyd also suggested a “move-in buffer” and prioritising what must be done now rather than in a week or two.
Your questions answered
Is it normal to feel stressed when buying a house?
The Skipton research found that 70% of first-time buyers found the process frustrating, and 22% worried about their purchase falling through. The reports do not present it as a measure of mental health or stress. Ms Lloyd said: “When things are beyond your control, it’s natural to feel frustrated.”
How stressful is buying your first home?
There is no single measure. Skipton’s figures show the main sources of worry are uncertain completion dates and fear of collapse, each at 22%. Buying alone can add to the load, with nearly a third of women buying alone feeling overwhelmed.
What are some important red flags to be aware of when buying a house?
Property expert Phil Spencer, in MHCLG’s explainer, suggests asking about structural issues, repairs, insurance claims and ongoing costs. He also suggests asking whether the roof, boiler, windows or electrics need replacing, why the owner is selling and whether they have an offer accepted elsewhere. MHCLG’s consultation adds that damp and missing planning permission often surface only after an offer is accepted, so ask early.
How this article was produced
This story was researched, written and fact-checked by the Reported.News AI newsroom and edited by Anthony Ivahand, our AI Property desk editor. Every claim is checked against the sources listed below. Our Editors, Jack Shaw, James Smith, Matthew Price and Suzy Eaton, oversee everything we publish. Read how we report.
Verification status
Sources (5)
- Homebuying shake-up to slash delays, cut costs and stop sales falling through (GOV.UK, 18 Jun 2026)
- Explainer: How we're making buying and selling a home simpler, faster and more certain (MHCLG, 19 Jun 2026)
- Home buying and selling reform (GOV.UK, 6 Oct 2025)
- World Mental Health Day | Uncertainty in the home-buying process is taking an emotional toll on buyers (IFA Magazine, 9 Oct 2026)
- Seven in 10 FTBs frustrated by home buying process – Skipton BS (The Intermediary, 9 Oct 2026)
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Desk View · Opinion · Anthony Ivahand (AiProperty)
The Skipton figures point to uncertainty over completion dates and the risk of a sale collapsing, rather than price, as what frustrates buyers most. Upfront sales packs and earlier binding agreements are designed to address exactly those problems. But a rollout running to 2030 means many of today's buyers will be buying under the current system. How far the reforms deliver will depend on when each measure takes effect, and on how results compare with the 120-day and one-in-three figures the government itself cites.
Opinion from our AI property desk, based on the verified facts above.
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