How long does it take to sell a house in 2026? The averages explained

If you put your house on the market today, the averages say you'll be moving out some time after next Easter. As of September 2026, Rightmove's figures show it takes an average of 64 days to find a buyer, followed by a further 150 days to complete. That's around seven months from the day your house goes live to the day you hand over the keys.

Here's what those averages mean, why the wait is so long, and what you can do about it.

What are the two stages of selling a house?

Every sale has two waits, and they feel very different.

Finding a buyer. This is the part most sellers think about: photos, listing, viewings and offers. The current average is 64 days. It's the stage you have the most control over, because price, presentation and timing all make a difference.

Completing the sale. Once you accept an offer, the legal work starts: searches, surveys, mortgage offers and the chain. The current average is 150 days, over twice as long as finding the buyer. This is the stage that catches sellers out. You've agreed a sale, you feel like you've sold, and then nothing seems to happen for months.

Is it taking longer to sell a house?

In July 2026, Rightmove's analysis put the average move at 216 days from listing to completion, which Estate Agent Today reported as the longest wait for that time of year in Rightmove's records. By September, the figure was 214 days: 64 to find a buyer and 150 to complete. The two figures come from different months, but both tell the same story. Selling a house now takes the best part of seven months.

Does every house sell?

The averages above only count the homes that do sell. Many don't. Rightmove's data shows that across Great Britain, 61% of homes that come to market find a buyer, down from 74% in 2021. In the South East, which includes Brighton and Hove, the figure is lower still, at 56%. In Scotland, it's 91%.

Put simply, in the South East, nearly half of the homes that go on the market right now don't find a buyer.

Why is selling taking so long?

There's a lot of choice for buyers. The number of homes for sale is at a 12-year high. Every buyer has more homes to compare, and less reason to rush.

Fewer buyers are looking. Buyer enquiries are 9% lower than a year ago, and agreed sales are also down 9%.

Mortgages cost more. The average two-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 5.29% in September 2026, up from 5.09% the month before. Higher rates mean buyers can borrow less, and some wait to see what happens next.

Prices are under pressure. Rightmove's updated forecast is that asking prices could change between 0 and -2% by the end of 2026. Buyers who expect prices to fall are in no hurry.

The legal stage is slow. Searches, surveys, mortgage offers and long chains all add weeks. A single slow link in a chain holds everyone up.

What happens between offer and completion?

Once you accept an offer, a lot happens that you never see. Knowing the steps helps you spot delays early.

1. Solicitors are instructed. Both sides appoint a conveyancer and send their details to the other side.
2. Draft contracts go out. Your conveyancer sends the buyer's conveyancer the draft contract and the property forms you've filled in.
3. Searches are ordered. The buyer's conveyancer asks the local council, water company and others for information about the property and the area.
4. Surveys and valuations. The buyer's mortgage lender values the house, and many buyers also pay for a survey.
5. Questions go back and forth. The buyer's conveyancer raises questions, called enquiries, and your conveyancer answers them with your help.
6. The mortgage offer arrives. The buyer's lender confirms the loan in writing.
7. Exchange of contracts. The sale becomes legally binding and a completion date is set.
8. Completion. The money moves, and the keys change hands.

Every step depends on someone else. If you're in a chain, every other sale in the chain has to reach the same point before anyone can exchange.

What is a realistic timeline?

Using the September 2026 averages, a house that goes on the market at the start of October would typically:

• find a buyer in early December, around 64 days later
• complete around early May, roughly 150 days after that

That's why Rightmove said that unless sellers beat the averages, they won't move until after next Easter. Plan for it, rather than hoping to beat it.

How can you sell faster than average?

1. Price it right the first time. This matters more than anything else. Rightmove found that 74% of homes sold so far this year were priced right first time and didn't need a price reduction. A house that starts too high sits unwatched, then has to be reduced anyway.

2. Get your paperwork ready before you list. Gather your title documents, guarantees, certificates and any planning or building control papers now. Ask your conveyancer to open a file before you accept an offer.

3. Make the house easy to say yes to. Small jobs fixed, clutter cleared, and the house warm and clean for every viewing. First impressions still sell houses.

4. Think about who's buying. A buyer with no chain, such as a first-time buyer, can often move faster than one who has to sell first.

5. Stay in touch. Ask your agent and conveyancer for a weekly update once you've agreed a sale. Problems found early are fixed faster.

What does seven months of waiting cost you?

If you're still living in the house, the wait is frustrating but manageable. If you've already moved out, it's a different story. Mortgage, council tax, insurance and bills keep going out every month for a house nobody lives in.

There's some relief on council tax. GOV.UK says you may not have to pay the second home premium for up to 12 months if the home is being marketed for sale. The standard council tax still applies.

If your house will be empty for months while it sells, a short let can cover the bills in the meantime. Guests book the nights you don't need for viewings, and bookings stop before completion. Read our guides: Can you let your house while it's for sale? and 8 options for an empty house while it's on the market.

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This is general information, not legal, financial, tax or insurance advice. Market figures are averages as of the date shown above and change every month. Speak to a qualified professional before you act on anything here.