Expect big Boxing Day bounce, says Rightmove
Property portal Rightmove said it is expecting a bigger than usual Boxing Day bounce this year, as those who paused moving plans due to the much-anticipated autumn budget decide to kick-start their home moves in 2026. As many as one in five home movers said they had been waiting for the outcome of the budget […]
Demand trends remain downbeat in subdued property market – RICS
The RICS UK Residential Market Survey for November reveals a subdued property market following the government’s autumn budget, with metrics on buyer demand and sales volumes remaining firmly in negative territory. Forward-looking indicators are also yet to suggest any meaningful near-term improvement in the property market, RICS said, with agents predicting a revival in spring […]
‘One of the most stable years for housing market in a decade’ – Halifax
The last year has been one of the most stable for the housing market in the last decade, according to Halifax head of mortgages Amanda Bryden. Commenting on the release of the latest Halifax House Price Index, which showed very little change in house prices (up £139 since October), Bryden said the consistency in prices […]
Q3 mortgage activity up in ‘finely balanced’ market
Mortgage lending activity returned to growth in Q3, the latest Household Finance Review from UK Finance reveals. Refinancing also increased, with volumes up nearly 50% year‑on‑year. Lending is now around the stable levels seen in 2022, with forward‑looking data analysed by UK Finance suggesting growth continued into October before flattening in November. Affordability remains ‘very […]
First-time buyer homes at lowest income to house price ratio since 2015
The average first-time buyer home now costs 5.9 times average earnings, the lowest ratio since 2015, according to the latest affordability review from Lloyds. Research from the high street lender has found a combination of lower interest rates, higher incomes and limited property price growth has improved first-time buyer affordability over the last year, taking […]
Propertymark new-build report reveals extent of fluctuations in pricing
The latest quarterly New Builds Pricing Report from Propertymark reveals the extent of variations in both seasonal and regional pricing for newly built homes. In London, the Q3 price increased by £102,685 compared to the same period the previous year, taking the average cost to £819,000. In Q2, London new-builds experienced the steepest decline, falling […]
HMRC residential transaction figures ‘show a market that held its nerve’
HMRC’s residential transaction figures for October reveal a 2% monthly increase, up from 96,730 in September to 98,450 in October – the highest seasonally adjusted residential transaction figure since March 2025. Non-seasonally adjusted residential transactions increased by 13% in October 2025 relative to September 2025. Seasonally adjusted non-residential transactions have also seen an increase, with […]
Pre-budget property tax speculation led to 12% drop in demand, Zoopla says
The pre-budget speculation surrounding property taxes contributed to a drop in buyer demand and sales agreed across the country, Zoopla reports in its latest House Price Index. The uncertainty triggered by rumours for weeks leading up to the budget contributed to a 12% year-on-year drop in demand, with sales agreed falling by 4%. With the […]
As mansion tax rumours become fact, expert share their views on its impact
Of the many rumoured changes to the system of property taxation, the mansion tax – or ‘high value council tax surcharge’ – was the only significant measure introduced by the chancellor in her autumn budget. From 2028, an annual ‘high value council tax surcharge’ of £2,500 for properties worth between £2-5 million and £7,500 for […]
Now the wait is over, how will the housing market react to the budget?
A Rightmove survey of 10,000 potential movers carried out before the budget found almost one in five (17%) had paused their plans due to uncertainty about any potential changes to property taxes. Now the wait is over, and many of the rumoured changes failed to materialise, what does that mean for the housing market? Experts […]
Landlords lose out in the budget, but tenants will pay the price
In her budget speech yesterday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was committed to creating a fairer system and would ‘ensure that the wealthiest will contribute the most’. Announcing a two percentage point increase in the basic and higher rate of tax on property income, she pointed out that under the current system, a landlord earning […]
Fall in demand ‘a temporary blip’ as market remains resilient
Buyer demand fell by 2.7% year-on-year in October, but the figures reflect ‘a temporary blip’ caused by exceptionally high activity in 2024, according to the latest data from TwentyEA. Falling interest rates in October last year triggered a rush of transactions ahead of the 30 October budget, TwentyEA pointed out, but the current demand/supply ratio […]
House price inflation slows, but buyer demand ‘holds up well’
The UK House Price Index for September reveals a 0.6% fall in house prices from August, with an annual price increase of 2.6% – down from 3.1% in the 12 months to August 2025. Between August 2025 and September 2025, UK transactions decreased by 1.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis. But with the news that […]
Budget continues to cast a shadow over ‘hesitant’ housing market, Rightmove says
05Speculation about the contents of the upcoming autumn budget is fueling uncertainty across the housing market, with property tax rumours triggering a drop in sales, Rightmove says. Average new seller asking prices fell by 1.8% in October, a larger than usual November drop Rightmove attributes to the budget hiatus and a decade-high number of homes […]
Propertymark data suggests ‘clear challenges ahead’ for housing market
The latest Housing Insight report from Propertymark includes figures which it says ‘are encouraging in parts’, but the estate agents’ body warns there are ‘clear challenges ahead’ for the housing market. An average of 73 new prospective buyers registered per member branch in September, up significantly from August’s 53. September’s viewing numbers were also positive, […]
‘Notable cooling’ across housing market as demand and sales dip pre-budget
The latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey reveals a notable cooling across the UK’s housing market, with buyer demand, sales activity and new instructions all falling further into negative territory. New buyer enquiries recorded a net balance of -24%, down from -21% in September and the weakest reading since April. Survey respondents strongly attribute the […]
Mortgage market slows as buyers pull back amid budget uncertainty
Data from mortgage technology and data company Twenty7tec reveals a continued overall drop in total residential searches, with first time buyer searches experiencing the steepest decline, but an increase in remortgage activity. The slowdown reflects both affordability pressures and a pause for clarity ahead of the upcoming autumn budget, Twenty7tec said. Total residential searches were […]
Rising house prices and increase in mortgage approvals ‘indicates resilient demand’
The Halifax House Price Index for October reveals house prices rose by 0.6% – the fastest pace since January – and mortgage approvals have reached their highest level this year, which the building society says indicates resilient demand. The house price growth is the fourth increase in the last five months, taking the average property […]
Law Society seeks member feedback for home buying and selling consultation response
The Law Society has launched a survey of members seeking views on the government’s home buying and selling consultations, with the opportunity to take part in focus groups to help inform the Society’s responses. The Law Society website is hosting the survey, and is encouraging responses from members and the wider legal sector. The survey […]
Confidence in property market slumps amid budget uncertainty, CLC finds
Research from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) reveals confidence in the housing market has fallen to its lowest level this year, which it says is triggered by uncertainty over the impending autumn budget. Three quarters of respondents to the CLC’s quarterly survey, launched at the start of this year to monitor the mood of […]