August sales volumes were largely static with a majority of estate agents suggesting asking prices are not being met, according to the latest Propertymark report.
There were an average of 69 new prospective buyers registering per member branch in August and an average 10.8 homes added for sale at each branch, according to the Housing Insights Report for August 2026.
Sales volumes remained flat, with figures for August 2026 nearly identical to those recorded in August 2025, at approximately 9,000 transactions.
The number of new prospective buyers registering per member branch dipped to an average of 69 per branch in August 2026, while stock levels increased to an average of 51 properties available for sale at each branch.
The average number of sales agreed per member branch edged upwards slightly in August 2026, reaching 9.5 sales per branch.
The proportion of member agents reporting that properties achieved their asking price remained relatively low in August 2026, at 9%.
A majority (86%) of member agents reported that properties were achieving less than the asking price in August 2026.
A third of Propertymark member agents reported that most of their sales agreed took more than 17 weeks to complete from the point of acceptance.
Meanwhile, the number of viewings per available property fell in August 2026, with an average of 1.7 viewings recorded per property, down from 2 the previous month.
Affordability remains a challenge, with a Propertymark survey between 5th and 30th August 2026 revealing that 33% of adults find it ‘very or somewhat difficult’ to afford their rent or mortgage payments.
Mortgage statistics for the second quarter of 2026 show an increase in gross mortgage advances, alongside a slight climb in the value of new mortgage commitments.
In August the Bank of England base rate remained at 3.75%, although borrowing costs remained significantly higher than the low rates seen in previous years. Inflation increased to 3.1%, however, well above the Bank of England’s 2% target.
Inflation in the owner- occupiers’ housing costs component of CPIH remained steady at 3.9% in August 2026, however, while monthly real GDP is estimated to have grown by 0.4%.
The average UK house price stood at £273,000 in July 2026.
Nathan Emerson, Propertymark CEO, said: “August’s figures show a housing market that is functioning, but where momentum remains uneven. The key issue for the industry is not a lack of activity, but the gap between what buyers are prepared to pay and what sellers are willing to accept. With more properties requiring negotiation, realistic pricing and strong local market knowledge are becoming increasingly important for agents managing expectations on both sides.
“Transaction timescales also remain a concern. A sale being agreed is only one milestone, and prolonged periods before exchange can create uncertainty for buyers and sellers and leave chains vulnerable to disruption. There is a clear need for greater efficiency across the wider conveyancing process if we are to turn market activity into completed transactions more consistently.”
Phil Spencer, founder of Move iQ, said: “For buyers and sellers, the message from August is that patience and preparation are becoming increasingly valuable. Buyers have more scope to negotiate than they have had in the recent past, but that doesn’t mean every property is a bargain. The strongest position is still to know exactly what you can afford, understand the local market and be ready to act when the right home comes along.”
