6 Best Fast House Buying Companies (2026)

Need to sell your house fast?

You’re not alone. Tens of thousands of homeowners each year find themselves stuck in chains, stressed by uncertainty, or just needing to get rid of a property quickly — whether due to inheritance, divorce, debt, or relocation. And while the “fast house sale” industry has its fair share of cowboys, there are a handful of highly rated, genuine cash buyers in the UK who can complete in days, pay legal fees, and give you peace of mind.

This guide reveals the 6 best fast house buying companies in 2026 — based on real Trustpilot reviews, confirmed regulatory credentials, and proven ability to complete purchases for cash, quickly (without reliance on a third-party buyer).

How We Chose the Best Companies

We vetted more than 40 different “sell house fast” companies across the UK using four strict criteria:

1. Excellent customer reviews

Only companies with a verified Trustpilot score of 4.5 or higher, and 200+ unique reviews, made the list.

2. Genuine cash buyers only

All companies here have the funds to buy direct. No brokers. No middlemen.

3. NAPB and TPO membership

Every company is a member of the National Association of Property Buyers and The Property Ombudsman, giving you a path to redress if something goes wrong.

4. Transparency around fees

Each firm pays your legal fees. No commission, no EPC, and no estate agent costs. Ever. And yes — Property Rescue is on the list. We’re proud to say we meet (and beat) the standard.

Is this ‘best fast house buyer’ list missing a popular cash house buyer?

Yes. If they didn’t meet the strict qualifying criteria outlined above, which we deem essential (and you should too), then unfortunately they were not included in this list. Only a handful of cash house buying companies hit the mark!

Quick Comparison: Best Fast House Buyers in 2025

1. Property Rescue (The Best Choice)

• Trustpilot score: ★ 4.8 (402 reviews)
• Type: Direct cash buyer
• Speed: From just 48 hours+ (you choose the speed)
• Extras: Price guarantee, cash advance, home move help

Property Rescue is the only fast house buying company regulated by the FCA, giving sellers a level of financial oversight and consumer protection that no other cash buyer offers. We’ve built a 20+ year track record helping homeowners sell quickly due to repossession risk, debt, probate, divorce, relocation, and more — and consistently earn 5-star reviews for speed, transparency, and fairness.

What customers love:

• Guarantee to beat any genuine cash offer
• Cash advance available before completion
• FCA-regulated (unique in this list)
• Help with removals and paperwork
• No fees, legal costs covered, fast process
• Rapid assisted sale via unique auction available (optional)

Things to watch:

You’ll get a bigger cash offer if you’re able to wait a few weeks, rather than opting for the lightning-fast 48-hour sale. If you want a fast, fully regulated and transparent house sale from a company that walks the talk, Property Rescue is the best in the business.

👉 Click here to get a free no-obligation cash offer

2. Good Move

• Trustpilot score: ★ 4.8 (1,166 reviews)
• Type: Direct cash buyer
• Speed: 3–28 days depending on your choice
• Extras: Assisted sale option available

Good Move are one of the most reputable fast house buyers in the UK — and rightly so. They’re NAPB and TPO registered, offer standard prices (typically 70–85% of market value), and always cover your legal costs.

What we like:

• Very high customer satisfaction
• Transparent process
• No hidden fees

Things to watch:

• Your ‘offer in principle’ may not be confirmed as a final offer for 2–3 weeks (until the survey is complete). This is standard industry practice.
• Assisted sale option is only vaguely mentioned on the website, with no clear guidance.
• Shorter fast-sale timelines are likely to result in a lower cash offer.
• Their TrustPilot score has dropped a little since 2025

3. Home House Buyers

• Trustpilot score: ★ 4.8 (300 reviews)
• Type: Direct cash buyer
• Speed: As little as 7 days
• Extras: Simple, no-frills service

Home House Buyers are a smaller outfit, but their near-perfect Trustpilot score makes them hard to ignore. They’re fully accredited with the TPO and NAPB and, most importantly, are a genuine cash buyer. That means they’re using their own funds — no brokers, no back-and-forth.

What we like:

• Very personal, high-touch service
• Direct buyer (not a middleman)
• Clear and fair process

Things to watch:

• Smaller team — may not have as much capacity as others
• Fewer “extra services” like cash advances or moving support

If you value friendly service, fast results, and a company that picks up the phone when you ring — they’re a solid option.

4. Housebuyers4u

• Trustpilot score: ★ 4.8 (1,000+ reviews)
• Type: Direct cash buyer
• Speed: As little as 7 days (typically 7–28 days)
• Extras: Covers legal fees, no fees to sell

Housebuyers4u is a well-established UK cash house buying company with an excellent reputation on Trustpilot. Unlike many firms in the “we buy any house” space, they are widely regarded as a genuine direct buyer, rather than a lead-generation broker, and are transparent about how their process works.

They buy properties themselves using cash, allowing them to move quickly and avoid chains, which like all options in this list, makes them a strong option for sellers who value certainty and speed over squeezing out maximum market value.

What we like:

• Strong Trustpilot rating with a high volume of reviews

• Clear focus on direct cash purchases rather than assisted sales

• Nationwide coverage across England and Wales

• Legal fees typically covered, reducing upfront costs

• Straightforward, no-pressure sales process

Things to watch:

• Less than 300 reviews trust pilot

• They promote a guaranteed sale as their main feature, but nearly all cash house buyers offer this as standard.

• Sellers should still request proof of funds for peace of mind (as they should with any buyer)

In summary:
Housebuyers4u is one of the strongest all-round cash house buyers currently operating in the UK. With consistently high reviews, a clear direct-purchase model, and a fast, no-nonsense process, they fit the criteria well for sellers who need a reliable cash sale without the uncertainty of chains or brokers.

5. Bettermove

• Trustpilot score: ★ 4.7 (1,864 reviews)
• Type: Hybrid – Assisted Sale + Cash Option
• Speed: Varies — usually 2 to 12 weeks
• Extras: Dual route: fast sale or higher price

Bettermove is one of the only companies that clearly explains your two selling options:

1. Fast Cash Sale — they buy your house quickly using their own funds, typically offering around 70–80% of market value.
2. Assisted Sale — they help sell your property via a trusted investor network for a much higher sale price, usually around 90–95% of market value.

They’re transparent about which route you’re on, and why — and the service is no-obligation and entirely fee-free. Legal costs are covered in both cases.

What we like:

• Clear explanation of both options — up front and centre
• Higher returns possible via assisted sale
• No upfront costs or hidden fees
• Strong customer reviews

Things to watch:

• Cash route offers less money (as expected)
• Assisted sale route is not guaranteed and takes longer (also as expected)

If you’re not in a rush and want to maximise your return, Bettermove are one of the most transparent and well-structured options.

6. SmoothSale

• Trustpilot score: ★ 4.7 (314 reviews)
• Type: Direct cash buyer
• Speed: As little as 7 days
• Extras: Free legal fees, best price guarantee

SmoothSale markets itself as a straightforward, hassle-free cash buyer — offering completions in as little as a week and handling all legal costs. They’re members of the TPO and NAPB and promise transparency throughout the process. There is some suggestion on their site that they can help you find a buyer if their offer doesn’t suit, but this is not clearly positioned as a formal “assisted sale” service.

What we like:

• Direct, fast, no-nonsense approach
• Apart from Property Rescue, SmoothSale is the only other company that guarantees to beat other offers

Things to watch:

• They don’t clearly discuss the alternative ‘assisted sale’ route

If you want a reliable, fast sale with no games, SmoothSale is a solid choice — but don’t expect the same flexibility or assisted sale model some competitors offer.

What to Know Before Using a Fast House Buyer

Fast cash buyers aren’t magic. They offer speed and certainty — but you need to understand what that actually means in real life. Here’s what most people get wrong:

1. Timings: Faster Isn’t Always Better

While some fast house buying companies can complete a purchase in days, that kind of speed only works if:

• You’re ready to move quickly too
• Your property is legally simple

For most sales, a more realistic timeline is: 7–28 days from first offer to money in your account It depends on:

• Solicitor speed
• Property quirks (like leasehold issues)
• Whether surveys or searches are needed

If you want the highest offer, don’t rush it. The faster you want to sell, the more risk the buyer has to price in — especially if they skip surveys to accommodate your timescale.

2. Pricing: 70–85% of Market Value Is the Norm

All reputable cash buyers will offer around 70–85% of your property’s open market value. Why the discount? Because they:

• Take on all the legal and resale risk
• Cover all your fees (solicitors, EPC, etc.)
• Still have to refurbish, relist, and pay stamp duty + capital gains tax

Seen a 90% cash offer? It’s either:

• A scam
• A broker with no funds (just fishing)
• Or not a cash offer at all — it’s an assisted sale (more on that next)

3. Price Drops: Why They Happen (and When They Shouldn’t)

One of the biggest complaints in the industry is that some companies drop their offer just before completion. Sometimes, it’s because they were never serious buyers to begin with. But often, it’s due to genuine findings from a survey, such as:

• Structural damage
• Japanese knotweed
• Fire or flood damage
• Cladding issues (especially post-Grenfell)
• Illegal extensions or building regs problems

At Property Rescue, we only revise offers when absolutely necessary — and we’ll always explain the cost of the issue transparently, so you’re never left guessing. In fact, over 90% of our offers in principle aren’t changed because we have special technology that assists in pricing properties correctly from day one.

4. Broker Posing as Buyer? Here’s How to Tell

Not all “cash buyers” actually buy houses. Some pose as buyers, but when you say yes, they go out and look for a real buyer (usually an investor) to pass your deal on to — and they take a fee in the middle.

Here’s how to spot a broker:

• They can’t show proof of funds
• They don’t let you speak to their solicitor
• They avoid questions about who the buyer is
• They say things like “I’m working for a client”
• They won’t give you a firm timeline

All the companies on this list are genuine cash buyers. Many (including us) can offer an assisted sale as an alternative service — but we still have the capability to buy your property fast with cash. A fake cash buyer cannot do that. They offer only an assisted sale and dress it up as a fast cash sale — when really, it’s not one.

5. Assisted Sale ≠ Guaranteed Sale

An assisted sale is when the company tries to sell your property for you via their investor or buyer network. This could involve them:

• Pitching your property to investors
• Listing it via estate agents
• Entering it into auctions

You might get a higher price (sometimes closer to 90% of market value), but there’s:

• No guarantee of a sale
• No fixed completion date

Here’s the difference:

If a company offers both? Great! Just make sure you understand the differences, and choose the option that best suits your goals.

Final Thoughts: Which Fast House Buyer Is Right for You?

Choosing the right house buying company comes down to one thing: What matters more to you — speed, price, or flexibility? While all six companies in this list are solid, Property Rescue stands out because:

• We’re the only fast house buyer regulated by the FCA
• We can exchange contracts in 48 hours (for urgent cases)
• We’ve been around longer than most — and have withstood the test of time
• We guarantee to beat any genuine cash offer
• We can offer unique rapid assisted sales via auction — not the slow estate-agent-style assisted sales offered by most others

You’ll also get:

• A cash advance, if needed
• Help with removals
• Legal fees covered
• A completely confidential sale

Get a free no-obligation cash offer now

We’ve helped thousands of homeowners just like you. Let’s get yours sold — fast.