The average time to sell a home, depending on where you live

According to Zoopla, the average home in the UK takes just under six months to sell, from going on the market to completing. However, that’s just an average figure and the length of time can vary significantly, depending on:

• The type of property - e.g. two-bed terraces tend to go under offer much more quickly than larger detached homes
• Whether the buyer requires a mortgage
• The efficiency of the legal companies
• How quickly the local authority can return searches
• Whether there are any issues with the property that require investigation on behalf of the buyer
• The time of year you go to market - people tend to prefer to move in the late spring or summer…

…and one of the most significant factors can be how busy the market is in your area at the time you want or need to sell.

The latest data from TwentyCi shows that the number of sales agreed in Q2 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 – and therefore the demand from buyers – varied hugely by city. While sales were up by double digits in Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Birmingham, they had dropped by 4% in inner London and barely grown in Plymouth and Norwich. Although a higher level of activity in your local market won’t necessarily make a sale go through more quickly, it should take much less time to secure a buyer.

The research also reveals that in the year to the end of March 2025, the South East of England was the most challenging place to sell with only 50% of listings successfully going through to completion and a fall-through rate of 26.5%. At the other end of the spectrum, transactions were much easier in Scotland, where almost 80% of listings completed and the fall-through rate was just 13%. This is mainly because of the different legal process north of the border.

For Q2 of this year alone, London proved the hardest place to sell, with only just over 37% of listed homes completing a sale. Overall, it was easier if you were selling in the North of England and Midlands than in the South of the country.

Which types of home are selling most quickly and why?

TwentyCi’s data for Q2 this year showed that demand is strongest for terraced and semi-detached homes, and properties with three bedrooms (two-bedroomed homes were just behind). This isn’t surprising, as these kinds of mid-range properties are most popular with families and young professionals attracted to the UK’s major cities by employment opportunities, amenities and overall quality of life.

Meanwhile, flats take longer to sell, mainly because the legals and securing finance can take more time due to additional contracts between the Landlord/Freeholder who owns the property and land it sits on while the buyer leases living in part of the property for a period of time. In addition, due to new Building and Fire safety laws, the amount of information needed to buy a flat safely has increased and this can take time to secure.

So, if you have a two or three-bedroomed house in a town or city with a strong local economy, the likelihood is that you’ll be able to sell much more quickly than the average, in around two to three months.

What’s the busiest time to move?

Although the last Friday in August is widely quoted as the busiest day of the year to move, the research found that in 2024 it was the last Friday in June, closely followed by the 28th of March.

For many years, the last working day of the month has been the most popular time to complete as it coincides with payday for many people, and those moving on from renting can transition out of a rental agreement at the end of their monthly rent cycle. Friday is the preferred day, so that people have the weekend to get moved in, and the late spring/summer months with longer daylight hours are obviously preferable to the darker and generally less clement autumn and winter.

All this said, we know that some properties will always be snapped up and sell quickly, regardless of the time of year, even if the local market isn’t particularly fast-moving. And it’s also true that certain homes can stick while others around them are selling, which can be for any number of reasons. Every village, town and city has micro-markets, which is why it’s important to work with an experienced and qualified local agent who can advise you on the price and marketing strategy that should achieve the quickest sale.

If you are thinking of selling, we’re here to help. Just get in touch with your nearest branch and one of our sales experts will be happy to arrange a free valuation of your home.