Properties for sale in England and Wales spend just over a month on the market on average, new data reveals.

Zoopla said they typically spend a total of 36 days on the market, with 52% selling within the first two months of listing, up from 49% last year.

To complete a sale, sellers and buyers typically need another four to six months, depending on the complexity of the transaction, it said.

It comes amid concerns about the numbers of landlords looking to sell ahead of the Renters' Rights Bill and the abolition of Section 21.

For those looking to sell, the amount of time they have left to complete is diminishing amid speculation that the Bill will come into force any time between this summer and spring next year.

Regional variations

There are significant regional variations in the timings, with properties tending to sell faster in areas with lower house prices. This makes them more affordable to a large group of buyers.

Properties in the North West and North East regions of England take on average 32 days to sell and account for six of the top ten fastest moving markets in England and Wales. These are Manchester, Carlisle, Stockport Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne and Halton.

Waltham Forest in North East London tops the list this year when it comes to the fastest moving markets in England and Wales, sitting at an average of 19 days.  

For Britain as a whole, homes in Scotland tend to move the fastest, spending an average of 21 days on the market before a sale is agreed.

It is 13 days faster than the UK average of 34 days.

Scotland has a different system from England and Wales, with homes listed with a Home Report - a pack of three documents that provide buyers with a clear picture of the condition of the property.

Homes are also advertised as ‘offers over’ the asking price.

While buyer demand has increased across southern England, it is failing to keep pace with the increase in homes for sale.

Second home hotspots

With 150 councils across Britain introducing double council tax for second homes, second-home hotspots - including coastal towns - are seeing an increase in supply.

Zoopla said this is significantly affecting the length of time it takes for properties to sell in these areas.

For example, coastal properties in East Lindsay in the East Midlands, which includes seaside towns such as Skegness and Mablethorpe, are taking on average 59 days to sell.

And homes in the Welsh county Gwynedd, another second home hotspot that has increased council tax by 150 per cent, also takes an average of 59 days to sell.

Property types

Two and three-bed homes are the fastest-selling property type, while flats and homes with at least four bedrooms take longer to sell due to increased supply.

The average time to sell a two-bedroom property is 23 days, two days faster than the previous year.

Meanwhile, flats and four-plus bedroom homes take the longest time to find a buyer, taking an average of 31 days and 38 days, respectively.

Richard Donnell, of Zoopla, said: “It currently takes just over a month to agree a home sale across England and Wales, but this varies widely across the country and by property type with smaller family homes the fastest selling homes.  

“Households that are thinking about listing their home and moving in 2025 need to set their asking price at the right level and take the advice of local agents.

“Buyers have a lot more choice of homes for sale than a year ago. Aiming too high on the asking price is likely to impact saleability and how long you may have to wait to agree a sale.”

Toby Leek, of the trade body Propertymark, said: “As the year progresses it’s extremely upbeat to witness a strong sense of self-assurance from buyers approaching the housing market.

“Regions such as the North West and North East have seen phenomenal growth over the last twenty-five years in terms of new infrastructure and jobs market appeal.

“This in turn has magnetised people towards certain towns and cities, as homebuyers search out a perfect location to potentially settle.

“There has been considerable public and private investment within such areas, with many large companies also choosing to locate their staff within key northern locations for the same positive reasons - mainly based on enhanced transport links and lower costs.”