Overview
- Official data show London prices fell 2.4% year on year to about £547,000 in October, while UK prices rose 1.7% to roughly £270,000.
- Rightmove forecasts average UK asking prices will climb about 2% in 2026, with London rising around 1% and northern regions, Scotland and Wales nearer 3%.
- Pre‑Budget speculation over stamp duty and council tax effectively wiped out the usual autumn selling season, according to industry reports.
- Rachel Reeves’ Budget introduced a surcharge on homes over £2 million, and agents report the high end of London’s market remains the slowest due to tax sensitivity and excess supply.
- Property sites and brokers expect a Boxing Day pickup and say looser mortgage rules and a possible Bank of England rate cut could bolster first‑time buyer activity.