30 September 2026
If you’re covering the latest UK monthly property transactions data, please see the following comment from Ian Futcher, financial planner at Quilter:
"UK residential property transactions came in at 95,220 on a seasonally adjusted basis in August 2026, 1% lower than July and 2% below the level recorded a year earlier.
"It is worth remembering that transaction figures are inherently backward looking, reflecting decisions made and mortgages agreed several months ago. Since then, the outlook has become more uncertain, with concerns about inflation persistence, geopolitical tensions and the future path of interest rates all weighing on buyer sentiment.
"While activity has held up reasonably well given the challenges facing households, expectations around monetary policy have shifted in recent weeks. The prospect of interest rates remaining higher for longer, and the possibility of further tightening, has pushed up swap rates and renewed pressure on mortgage pricing.
"As a result, prospective buyers are once again facing greater uncertainty over borrowing costs at a time when affordability remains stretched, particularly for first-time buyers contending with elevated mortgage payments and higher upfront costs. While Andy Burnham has announced measures to ease the pressure on younger buyers, any changes will take time to feed through.
"The housing market has shown resilience, but confidence remains fragile. Until there is greater clarity on the outlook for interest rates, many buyers are likely to remain cautious, limiting the pace of any recovery in transaction volumes over the coming months."
