The “we buy any house” industry has expanded considerably over the last decade, and so has the gap between the best and worst operators within it. Some companies use their own cash funds and complete in a matter of days; others act as intermediaries, source the buyer separately, and quietly reduce the offer after the survey. Working out which is which before signing anything has become the single most important step in choosing one.
The list below focuses on companies that are members of the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB), the trade body that requires its members to register with The Property Ombudsman and follow its Code of Practice for Residential Property Buying Companies. NAPB membership is not the only marker of a reputable buyer, but it is a meaningful starting filter, and every company below has been verified as a current member at the time of writing.
How the Companies Compare at a Glance
# | Company | NAPB Member Since | Head Office | Coverage |
1 | Property Buyers Today | January 2020 | London (W1C) | UK-wide |
2 | House Buyer Bureau | January 2014 | Kegworth, Derby | UK-wide |
3 | Speed Property Buyers | January 2014 | Worthing, West Sussex | UK-wide |
4 | Upstix | November 2023 | Leeds | UK-wide |
5 | National Residential | January 2014 | Chester | UK-wide |
6 | Estates UK | October 2020 | Hessle, East Yorkshire | East Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire |
7 | Spring | June 2014 | Croydon, London | UK-wide |
All seven companies are NAPB members and registered with The Property Ombudsman’s redress scheme. The information above is taken directly from each company’s NAPB listing and published materials. Fee structures, completion timeframes, and offer percentages vary case by case and should be confirmed directly with each company.
1. Property Buyers Today
Property Buyers Today operates from offices on Oxford Street in central London and has been an NAPB member since January 2020 (member number 92). The company positions itself as a direct cash buyer using its own funds, with the stated ability to complete transactions in as little as seven days. Its model removes estate agency fees and covers legal costs for the seller. The company is led by Saif Derzi, who according to publicly available information has been active in property investment and trading for over a decade and was named Property Trader of the Year at the 2022 Property Investors Awards.
What stands out about Property Buyers Today in the comparison is its public emphasis on transparency around the trade-off involved in a fast cash sale. The company publishes a comparison table on its own site showing the typical end-result of an estate agent sale (six to nine months, full asking price minus fees, repairs, mortgage costs, and council tax during the marketing period) against a direct cash purchase, and notes that the two figures often end up similar once the hidden costs of the longer route are accounted for. That kind of upfront framing is unusual in the sector and tends to be a good indicator of how the company conducts itself through the transaction.
Visit Property Buyers Today.
2. House Buyer Bureau
House Buyer Bureau is based in Kegworth, Derby, and joined the NAPB in January 2014 as one of the early members of the association. According to its own published materials, the company has been buying houses using its own cash since 2010, which makes it one of the longer-established direct buyers in the sector.
The company describes its approach as letting the seller decide the timescale, with completions arranged around the seller’s needs rather than a fixed company timetable. Like the other established NAPB members, it operates as a direct buyer rather than a broker, meaning the offer made is from the company itself rather than an investor it would need to find afterwards. Sellers should still confirm proof of funds at the offer stage as a matter of routine practice.
3. Speed Property Buyers
Speed Property Buyers operates from Worthing in West Sussex and is one of the founding NAPB members, having joined the association in January 2014 (member number 10). The company describes itself as one of the UK’s favourite property buyers and specialises in helping homeowners achieve a quick sale.
Its longevity within the NAPB and its consistent presence in the sector for over a decade are useful signals when assessing trustworthiness. Sellers in the south-east in particular have geographic proximity to the company, though it operates UK-wide. As with all companies in the sector, the headline offer should be confirmed in writing and the legal documentation reviewed by an independent solicitor before any commitments are made.
4. Upstix
Upstix is the newest entrant on this list, having joined the NAPB in November 2023 (member number 88), but it brings a different profile to the sector. The company is based in Leeds and according to its own materials has 25 years of industry experience across its leadership team and has completed over 4,000 property transactions to a combined value of £1 billion.
Its operational model emphasises speed of offer (final offers within 48 hours according to its published materials) and completion within 28 days. Upstix sits slightly differently to some traditional direct buyers in that it has built out a more technology-driven valuation and offer system, though the underlying transaction structure is the same: a cash purchase, removing chains and mortgage dependency from the equation.
5. National Residential
National Residential, based in Chester, is another founding NAPB member, having joined in January 2014 (member number 06). The company offers what it describes as multiple routes for sellers, including a quick cash sale within seven to fourteen days and a 28-day fixed-price sale option.
National Residential’s managing director, Dave Coughlin, was among the practitioners who participated in the original Property Ombudsman consultation that led to the NAPB’s formation, which gives the company a degree of historical involvement in setting standards for the sector. As with the other established members, the company’s longevity and consistent membership is a useful proxy indicator of how it conducts business, though the specifics of any individual offer still need to be assessed on their own terms.
6. Estates UK
Estates UK is the most geographically focused company on this list, operating primarily in East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. It has been an NAPB member since October 2020 (member number 74), and its team has been buying properties in that region for over thirty years according to its own materials.
For sellers in the Hull and surrounding areas, the regional focus is potentially an advantage: a local buyer that knows the specific market is sometimes better placed to make an accurate offer than a national operator pricing from a distance. The company offers a no-chain, no-fee service and uses its own readily-available funds, in line with the NAPB direct-buyer model.
7. Spring
Spring (formerly Spring Move) is based in Croydon and has been an NAPB member since June 2014 (member number 62). The company describes its offer as freeing sellers from the uncertainty of the traditional sales process by purchasing the property directly at a fair price on a date the seller chooses, with transparency and guidance throughout the transaction.
Spring is one of the larger and more established names in the sector and operates UK-wide. As with all the companies on this list, the specifics of fees (or absence of fees), final offer percentages relative to market value, and completion timeframes should be confirmed in writing on a case-by-case basis.
What to Check Before Choosing Any “We Buy Any House” Company
NAPB membership and Property Ombudsman registration are useful starting filters, but they’re not the end of the due-diligence process. A few questions worth asking any cash buyer before committing:
Where do the funds come from? A genuine cash buyer uses its own money. If the company is sourcing an investor or buyer after agreeing the offer with you, the timeline becomes dependent on that third party, and the offer can be vulnerable to last-minute changes. Ask for proof of funds.
Will the offer be reduced after the survey? Some companies are known for offering an attractive headline figure and then reducing it once the survey is back. The reputable operators commit to the offer in writing and hold to it.
Who pays the legal fees, and to whom? Most reputable buyers cover the seller’s legal fees as part of the package. Check whether you’re free to use your own solicitor or whether the company insists on its own panel.
Is there pressure to commit quickly? A legitimate cash buyer should give you time to consider the offer and seek independent advice. Pressure tactics around signing within a specific window are a warning sign.
The Bottom Line
The “we buy any house” sector contains both genuinely useful operators and ones to avoid. NAPB membership filters out most of the worst actors, but doesn’t replace independent due diligence on the specific company and the specific offer. For sellers considering this route, the right approach is usually to get offers from two or three different NAPB members, check each one’s track record independently (Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and the company’s own NAPB listing all help), and only commit once the proof of funds and the written offer are confirmed.
Speed and certainty have a price in this market, and that price is a discount to open-market value. Whether that trade-off makes sense depends entirely on the seller’s circumstances. For someone facing a chain collapse, a divorce timeline, a repossession deadline, or a property the open market won’t touch, the discount is often worth it. For someone with time, patience, and a saleable property in good condition, it usually isn’t.
FAQs
What is the National Association of Property Buyers (NAPB)?
The NAPB is a UK trade body established in 2014 to raise standards in the cash house buying sector. Members are required to register with The Property Ombudsman and follow its Code of Practice for Residential Property Buying Companies.
Are all “we buy any house” companies cash buyers?
No. The phrase is used loosely. Some companies use their own funds; others source investors after agreeing the offer with the seller. The distinction matters because only the first category can hold the offer and complete reliably.
How quickly can a we-buy-any-house company complete a purchase?
Genuine direct cash buyers can complete in seven to twenty-eight days depending on the property and the seller’s paperwork. Faster than seven days is possible but unusual and usually involves a property in straightforward condition with a responsive solicitor.
Do these companies pay market value?
No. The typical offer ranges from 70 to 85 percent of open-market value, reflecting the discount for speed, certainty, and the elimination of fees, repairs, holding costs, and chain risk that the seller would otherwise absorb.
Will I have to pay any fees?
Most reputable NAPB members cover all legal fees as part of the service, so there are no out-of-pocket costs for the seller. Confirm this in writing before committing.
Can I get offers from multiple companies before deciding?
Yes, and most sellers should. Getting two or three offers from different NAPB members lets you compare specific terms and verify that the figures being quoted are realistic.
What happens if a company tries to reduce the offer at the survey stage?
You’re not obliged to accept a reduced offer. The reputable operators hold to their initial figure unless genuinely new material information emerges. A company routinely reducing offers after a survey is a warning sign you should walk away from.
Licensed broker Logan Patel holds an MBA in Urban Economics from UCLA and has steered buyers and investors through market swings for a decade. He joined us in 2024 to demystify listings, financing, and neighborhood data with clear, chart-backed advice. When he isn’t scanning comps, Logan coaches youth basketball and scouts mid-century districts for hidden architectural gems on weekend walks.
