The number of property transactions which have fallen through has reduced when compared with the same period last year.
Data from TwentyCi, analysed by House Buyer Bureau, suggests an estimated 71,959 property transactions collapsed during the second quarter of the year, down 8.7% compared to Q2 2025. The data also reveals fall throughs have steadily started to increase again over the first half of 2026, with associated costs estimated at nearly £260 million.
The analysis shows that the average cost of a fall-through stood at an estimated £3,584 in Q2 2026, up by 0.9% versus the previous quarter. It also remains 2.8% higher than the average cost recorded during the same period last year. As a result of the quarterly increase in the number of failed transactions, the estimated total cost of fall-throughs to the UK housing market climbed from £239.7m in Q1 2026 to £257.9m in Q2 2026, an increase of more than £18m.
“Whilst fall-through volumes remain notably lower than they were this time last year the latest increase highlights just how fragile the process of buying and selling a home can remain.” said Chris Hodgkinson, managing director of House Buyer Bureau. “The fact that the average cost of a failed sale has also continued to rise means that every collapse carries a significant financial consequence for those involved.”
The analysis of estimated costs was based on legal fees, latest house price data, and inflation adjustments. The cost of a property fall through in the first quarter of 2024 was £3,372 according to House Buyer Bureau. By the first quarter of 2026 they estimated the cost to have risen to £3,551, an increase of 5%.
The result said Hodgkinson is an increase in the overall financial burden placed on the housing market: “With affordability pressures, changing buyer circumstances, and wider economic uncertainty continuing to influence the market, reducing the risk of a sale collapsing should remain a priority for both homeowners and the industry as a whole.”
