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Flats in England are taking 46 to 47 days to sell, while in Scotland the average selling time is just 16 days, according to property website Zoopla, as a combination of high service charges, fire safety concerns and leasehold conditions weigh on valuations across the UK.

The figures, reported by the Guardian, highlight a growing divergence in the speed of flat sales within Britain ^[1]. In Scotland, where the long leasehold system does not apply, transactions are completing roughly three times faster than in England ^[1]. The data underscores the drag that leasehold structures and associated costs are placing on the English market.

High service charges, fire safety issues, and onerous leasehold conditions have affected flat valuations over the past decade ^[1]. There are reports of owners, particularly in London, currently selling at a loss ^[1]. These financial burdens are reshaping what has traditionally been the most affordable route onto the property ladder.

Lending restrictions are compounding the problem. First-time buyers are unable to secure loans for flats in blocks with a high proportion of rental units ^[1]. At the same time, surveyors are stymying sales by "down valuing" properties, a practice that can cause chains to collapse when agreed sale prices exceed the valuation ^[1].

The combined effect is putting a stranglehold on the lower rungs of the housing market ^[1]. The Guardian is seeking accounts from buyers and sellers affected by these issues ^[1].