Gazundering reforms to make home sales legally binding by 2029
Barnet sellers lose thousands as buyers cut agreed prices at the last minute under current rules
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Barnet home sellers face last-minute price cuts in nearly every sale under current rules, as buyers exploit a legal loophole to reduce agreed prices just before completion. The practice, known as gazundering, will be banned under reforms the UK government plans to introduce by 2029.
Simon Nosworthy, head of residential conveyancing at Osbornes Law, told The Standard that 90% of residential property deals in London now involve a buyer attempting to cut the price at the last minute. Nosworthy said the tactic has become standard practice in a weak housing market.
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How gazundering costs Barnet sellers
One Barnet seller, writing in The Standard, described losing a "substantial" sum after their buyer demanded a price cut the day before contracts were due to be exchanged. The buyer, described as a City professional, refused to complete the sale unless the seller accepted the lower offer.
The seller said the buyer offered no justification beyond claiming the market had fallen since the original offer was accepted. The estate agent confirmed the tactic was common and advised the seller to accept the reduction to avoid losing their own onward purchase.
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RICS data shows fewer professionals reporting falling inquiries while Rightmove records a 5% year‑on‑year demand rise in early September
Why Scotland avoids the problem
In Scotland, an accepted offer is legally binding, preventing the last-minute price cuts common in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK government plans to align the rest of the UK with Scotland’s system by introducing legally binding sale agreements.
The Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities said the reforms will "stop gazundering by introducing legally binding agreements that prevent buyers from walking away at the last minute without a valid reason, with fines for those who do."
The rise in gazundering has been nothing short of staggering. It used to be seen as really bad form and an underhand tactic that most people wouldn’t consider, but now I expect it to pop up on every deal.
Simon Nosworthy, head of residential conveyancing at Osbornes Law
What happens next
The UK government expects to pass the reforms by 2029. Until then, gazundering remains legal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Barnet sellers who face last-minute price cuts have no legal recourse and must either accept the reduction or risk the sale collapsing.
Questions this report answers
+How many Barnet property sales involve last-minute price cuts?
Simon Nosworthy, head of residential conveyancing at Osbornes Law, estimates 90% of residential sales in London now involve a buyer attempting to reduce the agreed price at the last minute, as reported by The Standard.
+When will gazundering be banned in England?
The UK government plans to introduce legally binding sale agreements by 2029 to stop gazundering. Until then, the practice remains legal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
+How much does gazundering cost UK sellers each year?
Failed sales due to gazundering cost UK sellers £400 million annually, according to the Ministry of Housing, Local Government and Communities. The wider economy loses £1.5 billion from these failed transactions.
+Why doesn’t Scotland have a gazundering problem?
In Scotland, an accepted offer is legally binding, preventing buyers from reducing the agreed price at the last minute. England, Wales and Northern Ireland do not have this protection under current rules.
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