Gazumping, and what actually stops it
Why an agreed sale in England and Wales is not a sale.
open for offer lets you test the market before you list. Your home sits in the pre-market, buyers register interest, and nothing is advertised.
Gazumping is when a seller accepts a higher offer after already agreeing to sell to somebody else.
Why it is possible at all
In England and Wales an agreed sale is not binding until contracts are exchanged. Until that day either side can walk away, and a better offer is a reason to.
Scotland runs a different system, which is why it happens far less there.
How often deals collapse
Nearly 1 in 4 — 23.4% of listings had a sale fall through at least once in 2026, per TwentyCi. Gazumping is one cause among several.
What reduces the risk
Speed to exchange. A buyer holding a mortgage offer with no chain behind them. And a seller who already knows what the market will bear, so a later bid is not a revelation.
The seller's side of it
Most gazumping starts with a seller who did not know what their home was worth on the day they accepted. Finding that out first removes the temptation.
Testing the market shows you the interest before you agree to anything. You see the queue: every registered interest, in one place.
Common questions
What is gazumping?
A seller accepts a higher offer from a new buyer after already agreeing to sell to somebody else.
Is gazumping allowed in England and Wales?
An agreed sale is not binding until contracts are exchanged, so until that day either side can withdraw.
How often do sales fall through?
Nearly 1 in 4 — 23.4% of listings had a sale fall through at least once in 2026, per TwentyCi. Gazumping is one cause among several.
How can a buyer reduce the risk?
Move quickly to exchange, hold a mortgage offer rather than an agreement in principle, and avoid a long chain where you can.
How can a seller avoid the temptation?
Find out what the market will pay before you accept anything. Testing the market shows you the interest first, so a later bid is not a surprise.