Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the findings of his Department's consultation on improving the home buying and selling process, when his Department plans to take steps to prevent incidents of gazumping in the process of house sales.

The Government has committed to working with the sector to develop a standardised reservation agreement for use by buyers and sellers which will be informed by behavioural insights analysis. These agreements will be used to increase commitment between parties, preventing sales falling through and reducing incidents of gazumping.