The number of agreed property sales collapsing before completion increased in the second quarter of 2026. An estimated 71,959 transactions fell through, according to House Buyer Bureau analysis of TwentyCi data.
This figure represents a 6.6% increase in fall-throughs compared to the first three months of 2026. However, the number of failed transactions remains 8.7% lower than in Q2 2025.
House Buyer Bureau estimates that these fall-throughs cost buyers and sellers a total of £257.9 million during the quarter. This is an increase of more than £18 million from the £239.7 million recorded in Q1 2026.
The average cost of a failed transaction also rose to £3,584. This was 0.9% higher than in Q1 2026 and 2.8% above the level seen in Q2 2025.
Chris Hodgkinson, managing director of House Buyer Bureau, noted the increase in collapsed transactions resulted in financial losses and stress for homebuyers and sellers. He added that the rising average cost of a failed sale means each collapse carries significant financial consequences.