The Government should introduce legislation to ensure that estate agency contracts for property sales cannot exceed 28 days in length, with a rolling 7-day notice period thereafter. This could protect consumers from being tied into long-term agreements with underperforming or misleading agents.

Some homeowners are being locked into long-term contracts, lasting up to six months, after being over-promised on property value to win their instruction. These long contracts can prevent sellers from switching agents if they’ve been misled, leaving homes stuck on the market for months and causing unnecessary stress. A 28-day maximum term, with a rolling 7 day notice period, could encourage fairer pricing, rebuild trust, improve transaction speed, and support both consumers and ethical agents.