What Does “Under Offer” Mean? (2026): The Buyer’s & Seller’s Guide
“Under offer” means a buyer has made an offer on a property and the seller is considering or has accepted it — but nothing is legally binding yet, and the property is often still on the market. Here’s exactly what it means, whether you can still view or offer on an under-offer home, and how it differs from “sold STC”.
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Quick answer
“Under offer” means a buyer has made an offer on a property and the seller has accepted it (or is still considering it) — but the sale is not yet legally binding, and the property is often still being marketed. It’s an early, relatively loose stage in the buying process: an offer is on the table, but no legal commitment exists until exchange of contracts, which typically comes weeks later. Because nothing is binding, you can usually still view an under-offer property and make an offer on it — and if your offer is higher, the estate agent is legally obliged (under the Estate Agents Act 1979) to pass it to the seller, right up until exchange. That said, many sellers stick with their original buyer out of fairness or because they expect a quick, reliable sale. “Under offer” is often confused with “sold STC” (sold subject to contract): the two are similar, but “under offer” is the earlier, more tentative stage (offer just made, property still marketed), while “sold STC” is firmer (offer accepted, property usually taken off the market, legal machinery underway). A useful way to picture the whole sequence: under offer is the flirting stage, sold STC is the engagement, and exchange of contracts is the wedding — only at the wedding is anyone legally committed. Around 1 in 4 agreed sales fall through before completion, so “under offer” is a long way from keys in hand. Note Scotland differs: there, an accepted offer becomes binding much earlier. As of August 2026.
In this guide
What “under offer” actually means
When you see “under offer” on a property listing or a for-sale board, it means a buyer has put in an offer and the seller is either considering it or has accepted it — the property has moved from simply “for sale” into the early stages of a potential sale. The crucial point is that nothing is legally binding at this stage. An accepted offer is just that — an agreement in principle, “subject to contract.” Either party can still change their mind, renegotiate, or walk away without legal penalty, and the sale only becomes binding much later at exchange of contracts. Estate agents don’t always use the term consistently: some use “under offer” the moment any offer comes in (even before the seller decides), others use it once an offer is accepted. Either way, it signals the property is no longer freely available but the deal is far from done. It’s the first tentative step on a road that, for a typical open-market sale, runs 16–24 weeks from accepted offer to completion — so “under offer” marks the beginning of the journey, not the end. See how long it takes to buy a house for the full timeline.
Can you still view or offer on an under-offer property?
Yes — and here’s why that matters
Because an under-offer property isn’t legally sold, you can usually still view it and make an offer. Two things follow from this:
The property is often still on the market. When a house is under offer, the seller doesn’t have to take it off the market, and many keep marketing it — allowing further viewings and offers right up until exchange. So an “under offer” listing is not a closed door.
Agents must pass on your offer. Under the Estate Agents Act 1979, estate agents are legally obliged to pass all offers to the seller until contracts are exchanged — even on a property that’s under offer. So if you make a higher offer, the seller will hear about it and can consider it.
The catch: while you can offer, success isn’t guaranteed. Many sellers stay loyal to their original buyer out of fairness, or because that buyer is proceedable and likely to complete quickly. And a seller accepting a higher offer over the original buyer is gazumping — legal, but frowned upon. A chain-free buyer is often especially attractive to a seller here. So it’s worth a try if you love the property, but go in knowing the odds favour the existing buyer.
Under offer vs sold STC
These two terms are constantly confused, and the difference genuinely matters if you’re deciding whether to bother pursuing a property:
| Under offer | Sold STC | |
|---|---|---|
| Stage | Earlier, more tentative | Firmer, further along |
| What’s happened | Offer made / accepted | Offer accepted, sale progressing |
| On the market? | Often still marketed | Usually taken off the market |
| Legal work | Not yet started | Solicitors instructed, searches, survey underway |
| Legally binding? | No | No (not until exchange) |
In short: “under offer” is the flirting stage, “sold STC” is the engagement, and exchange of contracts is the wedding — only at the wedding is anyone legally committed. Some agents use the terms almost interchangeably, and legally both mean “a sale is agreed but not binding.” The practical difference is momentum: an under-offer property is more open to being pursued by other buyers, while a sold-STC property is proceeding with one buyer and further offers are less likely to succeed (though still legally possible). We cover the sold STC stage in its own guide; for the purposes of this page, the key is that under offer is the looser, earlier, more contestable stage of the two.
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How long does “under offer” last?
There’s no fixed clock, but a realistic shape: a property typically sits “under offer” for a few days to a couple of weeks before it firms up into “sold STC” — once the seller has formally accepted and the buyer instructs solicitors (and books a valuation), the status usually moves on. If a listing has been “under offer” for a long time with no progression, it can be a sign the sale is stalling or the seller is keeping options open. From accepted offer all the way through to completion on a normal open-market sale, you’re typically looking at 16–24 weeks (roughly four to six months) when nothing goes badly wrong — longer if there’s a chain or complications. And it’s worth repeating the sobering statistic: around a quarter of agreed sales fall through before completion, whether from survey problems, mortgage issues, chain breaks or a change of heart. “Under offer” is genuinely early in that long process, which is exactly why the property often stays on the market and why other buyers can still get involved.
Scotland is different
If you’re buying in Scotland, “under offer” doesn’t mean quite the same thing, because Scotland’s legal system works differently. There, once a seller’s solicitor formally accepts a buyer’s offer through the process of concluding “missives”, the agreement becomes legally binding much earlier than exchange does in England and Wales. So while “under offer” in Scotland still refers to the stage where an offer has been made and is being progressed, the window in which either party can freely walk away — and in which other buyers can swoop in — closes far sooner once missives conclude. This is why practices like gazumping are much rarer north of the border. If you see “under offer” on a Scottish property, it’s worth understanding whether missives have concluded, because that changes how contestable the sale really is. For properties in England and Wales, the looser “nothing binds until exchange” rule applies.
What it means if you’re the buyer or seller
If you’re a buyer eyeing an under-offer property, don’t assume it’s gone — you can view and offer, and if you’re serious (and can offer more or move faster), it’s worth expressing interest to the agent. But be realistic: the existing buyer — whether a first-time buyer or mover — has the inside track, and pursuing an under-offer home can mean wasted time and fees (part of the wider cost of buying) if it doesn’t work out. Being mortgage-ready makes you a more credible challenger. If you’re a seller whose property is under offer, you’re not obliged to take it off the market, and you can legally consider higher offers that come in — though weighing a slightly higher bid against a reliable, proceedable existing buyer is a judgement call, since the higher offer isn’t guaranteed to complete. Whichever side you’re on, the underlying truth is the same: until exchange, the sale isn’t real, which is why getting to exchange quickly — with your mortgage and paperwork ready — is the best protection against losing the property.
The bottom line
“Under offer” means an offer has been made and accepted or is being considered, but nothing is legally binding — the property is often still on the market, and you can still view it and make an offer, with agents legally obliged to pass on higher bids until exchange. It’s the earlier, looser cousin of “sold STC,” and both are a long way from the finish line, with around a quarter of agreed sales falling through before completion. For buyers, an under-offer property is worth pursuing if you’re serious and mortgage-ready, though the existing buyer has the advantage. For everyone, the real commitment point is exchange of contracts — everything before that is negotiable.
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“Under offer”: FAQs
What does “under offer” mean on a house?
“Under offer” means a buyer has made an offer on the property and the seller has accepted it or is considering it, but the sale is not yet legally binding. It’s an early stage in the buying process — an offer is on the table, but no legal commitment exists until exchange of contracts, typically weeks later. The property is often still being marketed during this period. Because nothing is binding, either party can still change their mind or walk away without penalty. Estate agents use the term slightly differently — some the moment any offer arrives, others once an offer is accepted — but it always signals a potential sale that is far from finalised.
Can you still make an offer on a property that’s under offer?
Yes. Because a property that’s under offer isn’t legally sold, you can still make an offer on it, and under the Estate Agents Act 1979 the estate agent is legally obliged to pass your offer to the seller — right up until contracts are exchanged. If your offer is higher, the seller can consider it. However, success isn’t guaranteed: many sellers stay loyal to their original buyer out of fairness or because that buyer is likely to complete quickly and reliably. A seller accepting a higher offer over the original buyer is known as gazumping — legal but frowned upon. So it’s worth trying if you really want the property, but the existing buyer usually has the advantage.
Can you still view a house that’s under offer?
Usually yes. When a property is under offer, the seller doesn’t have to take it off the market, and many continue to allow viewings right up until exchange of contracts. Since the sale isn’t legally binding at this stage, sellers often keep marketing the property as a sensible backup in case the current offer falls through — which happens in around a quarter of agreed sales. So an “under offer” listing isn’t a closed door: you can typically arrange a viewing through the estate agent. Some agents even use “under offer” rather than “sold STC” deliberately, to signal the property is still available and prompt other interested buyers to act.
What’s the difference between under offer and sold STC?
Both mean a sale has been agreed but isn’t yet legally binding, but they mark different stages. “Under offer” is the earlier, more tentative stage: an offer has been made or accepted, and the property is often still being marketed. “Sold STC” (sold subject to contract) is firmer: the seller has accepted, the property is usually taken off the market, and the legal machinery — solicitors, searches, survey, mortgage application — is underway. A useful analogy is that under offer is the flirting stage, sold STC is the engagement, and exchange of contracts is the wedding, where legal commitment finally happens. In practice, an under-offer property is more open to other buyers than a sold-STC one.
How long does a property stay “under offer”?
There’s no fixed timeframe, but a property typically sits “under offer” for a few days to a couple of weeks before firming up into “sold STC,” once the seller formally accepts and the buyer instructs solicitors. If a listing stays “under offer” for a long time without progressing, it can suggest the sale is stalling. From accepted offer through to completion on a normal open-market sale, the whole process usually takes 16 to 24 weeks — around four to six months — when nothing goes wrong, and longer with a chain or complications. Because “under offer” is so early in this long process, the property often stays on the market and other buyers can still get involved.
Does “under offer” mean the same thing in Scotland?
Not quite. Scotland’s legal system works differently: once a seller’s solicitor formally accepts a buyer’s offer by concluding “missives,” the agreement becomes legally binding much earlier than exchange does in England and Wales. So while “under offer” in Scotland still refers to a property where an offer is being progressed, the window for either party to walk away — or for other buyers to step in — closes far sooner once missives conclude. This is a key reason gazumping is much rarer in Scotland. If you see “under offer” on a Scottish property, it’s worth checking whether missives have concluded, as that determines how contestable the sale still is.
- HomeOwners Alliance — What does under offer mean?
- GOV.UK — Buying and selling your home
- MoneyHelper — free, government-backed money guidance
Important information
nextmove is an introducer, not an estate agent, conveyancer, lender or adviser. This article is general information only and does not constitute property, legal or financial advice. The terms and processes described apply to England and Wales (Scotland’s system, using missives, differs significantly) and reflect common practice as of 2026, which can vary between estate agents. Statistics are drawn from cited industry sources and are indicative. We introduce you to FCA-regulated, whole-of-market mortgage brokers who can help you get mortgage-ready, and we may receive a fee or commission for doing so.
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