Housing transactions are looking “broadly similar” to last year, according to the latest TwentyCi Property and Homemover report.
Overall, the number of transactions is down almost 4% compared with last year, but the number of properties brought to market between January and April went up by 5%.
The impact of the conflict in the Middle East is causing “some initial cooling” but has yet to be felt significantly, according to the report.
While demand has fallen 3% compared with 2025, the report highlights that Q1 2025 figures were artificially high due to the stamp duty holiday. Transactions in Q1 were 3.9% lower than in 2025 for the same reason; however, up by 10.7% compared to Q1 2023 and 19.2% compared to Q1 2024.
The average time to get a sale agreed on a property in 2026 year-to-date rose to 82 days from 81 days in the same period in 2025, and 76 days in 2024. The average time to exchange in Q1 has increased by seven days year-on-year at 134 days.
While sales transactions were lower compared with last year, (-2.8% Jan-Apr and -21% Jan-Mar), transactions are up 9% versus 2023 and 18% compared to 2024. Demand was also higher than both 2023 (+16%) and 2024 (+2%).
“Global disruption can and will weigh on the UK property market,” Colin Bradshaw, chief executive officer at TwentyCi said. “The good news is that so far, we’re not seeing a huge impact from the conflict in the Middle East. There is some initial cooling, especially in London and the South East, as fixed rates surge back above 5%, a blow for many borrowers. However, we are quietly confident that should the ceasefire hold, transactions for this year should be broadly similar to 2025.
“Though sales agreed and transactions are down year-on- year, Q1 2025 enjoyed a flurry of activity before the stamp duty holiday ended, so it’s not a like-for-like comparison. Looking at 2024 and 2023, this year is tracking higher. We’re also seeing more listings come to market than ever, with supply up 5% year-on-year.”
TwentyCi expects 1.2 million of transactions in 2026, similar to 2025 levels.
However, it said the wider outlook remains uncertain, and predicts slower transactions rather than a frozen market, amid continuing global political and economic uncertainty.
