The Intermediary – December 2025 - Flipbook - Page 37
SPECIALIST FINANCE
Opinion
Breaking the chain:
Fix a property
gridlock
W
hile the
spotlight
remains fixed
on legislative
reforms like
the Renter’s
Reform Act, a quieter but equally
disruptive issue continues to cause
chaos: the persistent problem of
property chains. Long a source of
frustration for buyers and sellers,
these are once again threatening to
stall progress. Yet brokers can help.
The Housing Secretary recently
introduced proposals aimed at
simplifying the process. These include
measures such as preparing contracts
earlier and increasing transparency
from sellers and estate agents.
The goal is to reduce the number
of transactions that fall through, and
to curb practices like ‘gazumping’.
However, with no clear timeline for
these changes to take effect, property
chains will likely continue to hinder
the market in the near future.
Our research highlights the scale of
the issue. Nearly 60% of homeowners
have found themselves entangled in a
property chain, and one in four have
experienced delays in the past five
years. With Government data showing
that more than 618,000 households are
moving each year, this translates to
tens of thousands of chains, each one
a potential source of stress, financial
strain, and missed opportunities.
More than half of buyers reported
feeling so discouraged by the process
they considered abandoning their
purchase altogether, and two-thirds
said the experience was more stressful
than saving for a deposit.
Many are now reluctant to make
offers on new homes, fearing a repeat
of the ordeal. While affordability is
front and centre when discussing
barriers to geing on the property
TANYA ELMAZ
is managing director of
intermediary sales at Together
ladder, it’s clear that these chains are
proving just as much of a hurdle.
However, amid this chaos there is a
solution in regulated bridging loans.
These enable buyers to secure a new
property before selling their existing
one, sidestepping the delays.
Despite their potential, awareness
of bridging loans remains low; only a
quarter of homeowners we surveyed
were familiar with the option. This
is where brokers can make a real
difference. By educating clients about
bridging finance, brokers can offer
a lifeline to those stuck in limbo,
help them act swily in competitive
markets, and reduce the risk of
transactions falling through.
In fact, nearly 60% of respondents
said they would consider using
bridging finance if it meant escaping a
property chain. This insight presents a
clear opportunity for brokers.
In today’s market, brokers must be
educators, advocates, and problemsolvers. Bridging finance is not just a
niche offering; it’s a useful tool that
can help clients to move forward with
confidence. Whether it’s funding a
renovation, securing a property at
auction, or simply avoiding the delays
of a chain, bridging loans provide the
flexibility and speed.
By proactively discussing these
options, brokers can ease the burden
on buyers and enhance their own
value in an increasingly competitive
landscape. ●
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December 2025 | The Intermediary
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