Embracing a Holistic Approach to Property Transactions: Revolutionising the UK Housing Market

The landscape of property transactions in the UK is on the cusp of a fundamental shift. Over the past few years, we've seen promising initiatives aimed at improving individual parts of the property-buying process. While these have laid the groundwork for change, many failed to gain significant traction or address the broader, systemic inefficiencies that plague the market. Today, however, we stand at a pivotal moment where the ambition to transform the property market is matched by the capacity to deliver meaningful, system-wide change. 

The Rise of Systemic Thinking 

Historically, much of the innovation in this sector has been hyper focused on optimising individual transactions. And yet, while a single, isolated improvement - a faster mortgage offer, a more efficient search process - might benefit one property sale it often does very little to address the interconnected challenges of a transaction chain. This fragmented approach, while well-meaning, has frequently resulted in solutions that fail to deliver significant time savings or consumer benefits. 

But now, for the first time, there is momentum behind a more holistic view. Consortia of industry leaders, regulators, and innovators are working collaboratively to reimagine the entire transaction process. This shift is underpinned by two major trends: the drive for upfront information and the recognition that property transactions are not solitary events but part of larger, interconnected chains. 

The Power of Upfront Information 

At the heart of this revolution is the idea of gathering and sharing critical data earlier in the process. By addressing tasks such as customer due diligence, searches, and property disclosures at the very beginning of the journey, we can eliminate many of the bottlenecks that traditionally arise later. 

But the real innovation lies in integrating these early-stage improvements with the full transaction lifecycle. Mortgages, searches, and conveyancing don’t happen in isolation, and it’s increasingly clear that neither should the solutions. A focus on upfront information is not about optimising one small slice of the process—it’s about enabling a seamless progression from offer to completion, with fewer delays and less friction. 

Chains: The Elephant in the Room 

No discussion of UK property transactions can ignore the prevalence of chains, which remain a defining feature of the market. More than half of all transactions are part of a chain, where progress depends on the alignment of multiple, interdependent transactions. 

Efforts to improve individual transactions, no matter how innovative, are of limited value if the wider chain is neglected. A system designed to enable simultaneous payments across a chain, for instance, cannot succeed if even one link operates outside the platform. Similarly, allocating resources to expedite a single transaction achieves little unless its position in the chain is understood and considered. 

To fully modernise the market, we must embed chain visibility into the data frameworks and networks being developed. This isn’t just about enhancing transparency; it’s about creating a foundation for innovations that will revolutionise the buying and selling experience. 

A New Era for Property Transactions 

The opportunities ahead are transformative. Over the next 12 to 24 months, we have the chance to redefine the consumer experience of buying and selling homes. Groundbreaking trials are already underway, testing systems that could deliver faster completions, greater transparency, and a smoother journey for all parties involved. 

This is no longer a vision of the distant future. The groundwork has been laid, and the tools are in place. What’s needed now is a commitment to systemic thinking, where every innovation is evaluated not just on its individual merits but on its ability to improve the chain as a whole. 

Conclusion 

The UK property market is poised for its most significant evolution in decades. By moving beyond fragmented improvements and embracing a truly holistic approach, we can deliver a faster, fairer, and more predictable experience for consumers. 

The task is ambitious, but the rewards are clear. With the right collaboration and a continued focus on systemic solutions, we have the potential to make buying and selling homes in the UK not just better, but genuinely progressive. Fit for a modern world with sophisticated consumers who know what good looks like.   

Paul's Bio 

Paul Halliwell is the Executive Director of ViewMyChain (VMC), a UK-based company that leverages data to enhance property chain visibility and improve sales progression processes. With a focus on streamlining communication among estate agents, buyers, sellers, and conveyancers, ViewMyChain automates the monitoring of property chains, helping to reduce transaction times and minimise deal fall-throughs. 

Paul brings significant entrepreneurial experience, having been involved in over ten start-ups, two of which achieved valuations exceeding $1 billion. His passion lies in identifying industry challenges and crafting innovative, data-driven solutions to address them. Under his leadership, ViewMyChain has developed tools like the MoveMe dashboard, providing real-time updates on the status of property chains to stakeholders. 

This piece was published as part of our Future of Property Sales 2025 book - a collection of essays from some of the leading thinkers in the UK property industry.