Transaction fall-throughs across the UK increased by 6.6% during the second quarter of 2026, with an estimated 71,959 property transactions collapsing during the period.
The figures come from TwentyCi, with House Buyer Bureau calculating the estimated cost of these failed transactions to the housing market. The total reached an estimated £257.9 million in Q2 2026, up from £239.7 million in the previous quarter.
While the number of fall-throughs remains 8.7% lower than in Q2 2025, the average cost of a failed transaction continues to climb. It stood at £3,584 in Q2, up 0.9% on the previous quarter and 2.8% higher than the same period last year.
For buyers and sellers, a collapsed sale can mean far more than disappointment. Legal fees, surveys, searches and mortgage arrangements may already have been paid for, and the whole process may have to start again. Sellers can lose valuable time getting back on the market, and in a chain, one failure can affect several other households.
One way to add certainty is a reservation agreement. Through our partner Gazeal, buyer and seller commit to the agreed terms at an early stage while the legal process continues, which can help reduce the risk of fall-throughs. It typically involves a small reservation fee, and if either party withdraws without a valid reason, financial protection is in place for the other side.
Strong conveyancing support matters too. Through our network with The Guild of Property Professionals, we work with trusted conveyancing professionals and stay closely involved from instruction through to completion, so your sale keeps moving without unnecessary delays.
If you are buying or selling in North London and want to protect your transaction, our team is happy to talk it through.
Source: Estate Agent Today
— Drivers & Norris