Report comment

Even in the most straight forward transaction. There are at least 2 parties usually 4 on frequently 6 or 7. The seller, the buyer, their conveyancers, the estate agent, the surveyor, and a lender. Insert this into even a short chain and the numbers increase rapidly.
It is this that makes the biggest contribution to delay. The chance that at least one person will be unavailable at a crucial stage is quite high. Anyone who has had to spend a day trying to secure exchange of contracts will know this. Herding cats is the best description.
Any politician who can solve this issue will cure the delay problem at a stroke.