Hidden Housing Supply: Where Are All the New Homes Going?
New analysis from Alto, using ONS data, shows that only about one in ten newly built homes in England reach the open market in 2024/25. Of roughly 200,000 homes delivered, just 21,261 are listed for sale, with London lagging at a mere 2% share. The majority are diverted into build‑to‑rent projects, developer‑direct sales, and affordable or shared‑ownership schemes. This structural shift is reshaping the UK housing mix toward a more rental‑centric model akin to parts of Europe.
Renters’ Rights Act Risks Locking Out ‘Vulnerable Tenants’
The UK Renters’ Rights Act, designed to boost tenant security, may backfire by prompting landlords to become far more risk‑averse. Paragon’s head of mortgages warns that stricter compliance and the ban on advance‑rent payments will tighten screening, sidelining low‑income and...
Buyers Left Waiting as Transactions Take Longer than Ever to Reach Exchange
Homebuyers are waiting longer than ever, with 43% of UK sales taking over 17 weeks to reach exchange in February 2026 – the highest level on record. Despite the delay, branch‑level activity remains resilient, averaging 7.3 sales agreed per office...
Landlord Exodus Slows as Proportion of Rental Sell-Offs Falls by Almost Half
The proportion of former rental homes hitting the market dropped sharply, falling from 22.5% in Q1 2025 to 12.4% in Q1 2026 – a 45% year‑on‑year decline. London saw the steepest fall, with a 51% reduction in rental sell‑offs. Most sold former...
Latest ONS Construction Figures Show Fall in Private Housing Output
The Office for National Statistics reported a 2% drop in UK construction output for the three months to February 2026, driven primarily by a 6.5% fall in private‑housing new work. While overall new work fell 3.4%, repair and maintenance remained flat,...
Mortgage Searches Hit 2.15m in March as Borrowers Respond to Uncertainty
Mortgage searches in the UK jumped to 2.15 million in March, a 19% rise from February and 17% year‑on‑year, the highest level recorded in 2026. Remortgage queries led the surge, up 32% month‑on‑month, as borrowers nearing the end of fixed‑rate deals...
Buy-to-Let Lending Rose in Q4 2025 Amid Remortgaging Growth
Buy‑to‑let mortgage lending in the UK jumped 18.2% in number and 21.3% in value in Q4 2025, with 59,489 new loans totalling £11.2 bn (≈$14.2 bn). The surge was almost entirely driven by landlords refinancing existing debt, while fresh purchase financing remained flat....
Property Market Stabilises but Affordability and Uncertainty Slow Activity
The UK property market showed modest stabilization in Q1 2026, with buyer‑friendly conditions but muted transaction momentum. Listing volumes rose 3% year‑on‑year, led by a 6% jump in January, while sold‑subject‑to‑contract activity stayed 8% below a year earlier. Mortgage valuation activity...
Major Housebuilder Cuts Land Buying Plans Amid Global Uncertainty
Barratt Redrow, one of Britain’s biggest housebuilders, announced it will approve only 7,000‑9,000 land plots this year, down from its earlier 10,000‑12,000 target. The cut reduces projected land spending to £700‑£800 m (about $875‑$1 bn), a modest decline from the prior £800‑£900 m...
Welsh Proptech Firm Secures Big Investment to Scale Platform
Welsh proptech startup Openmoove announced it has secured £700,000 (approximately $890,000) in equity funding to accelerate its B2B platform for estate agents, conveyancers and mortgage brokers. The round was led by the Development Bank of Wales, with contributions from HAATCH...
New Real Estate Talent Acquisition Role for Former Colliers Chairman
Madison Lincoln has hired former Colliers UK & Ireland chairman Tony Horrell as a senior advisor to expand its advisory services and deepen relationships with senior real‑estate leaders. Horrell brings more than four decades of experience in real‑estate and capital...
Bettermove Introduces Chain-Mending Service to Tackle Failed Transactions
Bettermove has unveiled a chain‑mending service that steps in when a buyer withdraws, purchasing the property to keep the transaction chain moving. The offering targets estate agents, landlords and sellers, aiming to reduce the roughly 25% failure rate of UK...
House Sharing Becomes ‘Embarrassing’ by 29 – but One in Ten Still Do It
Nationwide’s research shows that while 69% of Britons find living alone unaffordable, the stigma of house sharing peaks at age 29. Yet 11% of adults still co‑habit with parents, friends or strangers, pushing the average age of shared‑housing residents to...
Property Market Showing Signs of Resilience Amid Mortgage Rate Rises
UK housing activity remained surprisingly steady in March despite mortgage rates climbing to 4.57%, the highest since last April. The share of home movers accepting rates above 4% jumped to 83% from 58% in February, the sharpest month‑on‑month rise since...
Fast-Growing Agency Enters London Market with Third Acquisition of Year
Dwelly entered the London lettings market by acquiring Eden Harper, its third acquisition this year. The deal adds roughly 250 fully managed properties and expands Dwelly’s footprint into the capital. It follows a recent £69 million (≈$86 million) funding round that fuels...
Essex Agency Expands Portfolio by Acquiring High-Value Home Specialist
The Property Franchise Group’s Northwood Chelmsford has acquired the Zoe Napier Group, a specialist agency focused on high‑value homes in Essex. The deal follows the late‑2025 purchase of Shenfield‑based WN Properties, further expanding the group’s regional footprint. Zoe Napier will remain as a...
Platform Launched to Support Rent Reviews Under Renters’ Rights Act
MarketRent, a proptech startup founded by Fixflo co‑founders Rajeev Nayyar and Duncan Careless, has launched an early‑adopter program for its rent‑review platform in England. The tool centralizes market data, comparable rents, indexation and landlord approvals, creating a transparent audit trail...
International Estate Agencies Extend Global Reach with New Market Entries
Fine & Country announced its first Madrid office, targeting high‑end residential sales and lettings, led by architect Alejandra Santos and entrepreneur Carlos Rojo. Chestertons entered India through a partnership with BSE‑listed Justo Realfintech, forming Chestertons India Private Limited to serve...
Propalt Launches ChatGPT Connector to Give Agents AI Access to Data
Propalt, a property data and prospecting platform, has unveiled a ChatGPT connector that lets estate agents query its datasets using natural language. The integration returns details on sales, lettings, landlord portfolios, planning applications, charge records and market averages, aiming to...
UK Construction Confidence Holds Despite Geopolitical Uncertainty
UK construction confidence held steady in March 2026 despite rising geopolitical tension from the war in Iran, according to Barbour ABI data. Contract awards reached £7.18 bn (about $9.2 bn), only a slight dip from February but in line with Q1 trends...
Charity Donations Through Deposit Protection Service Hit £1m Mark
The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) has raised about $1.25 million in interest donations for homelessness charity St Mungo’s since launching the partnership at the end of 2024. The funds come from interest accrued on tenants' safeguarded deposits, which tenants can elect to...
Knight Frank Targets Growth with Self-Employed Affiliate Estate Agency Model
Knight Frank has unveiled an affiliate estate‑agency model that lets self‑employed brokers operate under its brand while remaining independent. The network will extend the firm’s residential sales reach into 36 target markets without opening new physical branches, starting with several...
Mortgage Deals Pulled at Fastest Rate on Record as Product Choice Shrinks
Mortgage deals in the UK are vanishing at an unprecedented pace, with the average shelf‑life shrinking to just eight days in March – the shortest since Moneyfacts began tracking in 2011. The total number of mortgage products fell by 1,283...
“For Sale” Boards Under Scrutiny as Agents Accused of Misuse for Branding
UK estate agents are keeping “For Sale” and “To Let” boards on properties long after they leave the market, a practice critics call “fly‑boarding.” The tactic is seen as a branding exercise that creates a false impression of market activity....
Section 8 Overhaul: New Rules for Selling or Moving in (May 2026)
The Renters' Right Act, effective 1 May 2026, eliminates no‑fault Section 21 evictions but retains Section 8 routes for landlords who wish to sell or move back in. New rules impose a mandatory 12‑month tenancy protection, double the notice period to four months, and...
Flipping Consigned to History as Profits Diminish
Flipping homes in England and Wales fell to 1.5 % of transactions in 2025, the lowest share in a decade, as higher stamp‑duty charges erode margins. Average post‑SDLT profit dropped from £36,500 (≈ $45,600) in 2015 to £16,390 (≈ $20,500) in 2025, a...
Alto Rolls Out Renters’ Rights Updates Ahead of 1 May Changes
Alto has launched a suite of product updates to help letting agents comply with the UK Renters’ Rights Act, which takes effect on 1 May 2026. The legislation replaces fixed‑term Assured Shorthold Tenancies with periodic agreements, bans Section 21 evictions, caps rent‑setting practices...
PropTech Firm Launches Digital Assistant for Estate Agent AML Checks
Coadjute, the PropTech firm backed by Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest and Nationwide, has introduced Clara, an AI‑driven digital assistant that guides estate agents, buyers and sellers through anti‑money‑laundering (AML) checks. The tool interacts in real time, collects documents and flags...
After 130 Years, Iconic Estate Agency Shuts Its Doors
Harrods Estates, the 130‑year‑old luxury real‑estate arm of Harrods, announced it will close its final Knightsbridge office and cease operations by March 2025. The shutdown mirrors a broader slump in London’s high‑end housing market, where higher stamp duty and the...
Estate Agents Play Key Role in Major 8,500-Home Development Deal
Savills, representing master developer Places for People (PfP), and JLL, on behalf of Barratt Redrow, have sealed a joint‑venture to deliver an 8,500‑home development on the edge of Gilston, East Herts. The scheme will create six interconnected villages across 660 ha...
Savills Completes Super Prime Agency Acquisition From Former Head of Lettings
Savills has completed the acquisition of Mark Tunstall Property, a super‑prime lettings and management firm focused on prime central London. The deal brings founder Mark Tunstall back as co‑head of super‑prime lettings in London, alongside Isabella Birch Reynardson, and sees...
Six Agencies Expelled From The Property Ombudsman Scheme
The Property Ombudsman expelled six letting and management firms after they failed to pay compensation awarded to landlords and tenants. Awards ranged from £150 ($188) to £12,635 ($15,800), and total unpaid sums exceed £20,000 (≈ $25,000). The expulsions follow a...
Estate Agency Pair Notch up 12th Acquisition
Chan Khangura and his father Kashmir have completed their 12th estate‑agency acquisition, adding Claire Ramsbottom’s lettings portfolio to Whitegates’ Huddersfield office. The deal expands Whitegates’ footprint across West Yorkshire, which already includes offices in Huddersfield, Brighouse and Pontefract, plus a...
Rental Yields Increase Across Every Region in England and Wales
Rental yields across England and Wales rose to an average of 8.1% in Q1 2026, up 0.7 percentage points year‑on‑year. The North East posted the highest regional yield at 9.8%, while most northern and Midlands areas exceeded 8%. Southern regions improved...
UK Rental Market Splinters as Regional Trends Diverge
In March 2026 the UK rental market displayed stark regional splits, with rents climbing in Scotland and Northern Ireland while London saw a modest decline. Scotland’s average rent hit £1,123 (~$1,425) and Northern Ireland rose to £887 (~$1,127); London fell to...
Significant Drop in UK Property Fall-Throughs
The House Buyer Bureau’s Fall‑Through Index shows UK property deal collapses fell sharply in Q4 2025, with 61,488 transactions – a 25.1% quarter‑on‑quarter decline and 12.9% lower than Q4 2024. Although the average cost per collapse rose slightly to £3,550 (about $4,440),...
Estate Agency Franchise Group Expands with Multi-Branch Acquisition
LSL Estate Agency Franchising has acquired Meyers Franchising Limited, adding ten franchise partners and six branches across Dorset and the South Coast. The deal folds the Meyers brand into LSL’s national franchise network, bringing shared infrastructure and new investment. LSL...
Comings & Goings
LRG appointed Allison Thompson as chief lettings officer, promoted Richard O’Neill to national lettings managing director and Sophie Durkin to Central region managing director, aiming to tighten coordination after a company‑wide CRM rollout and prepare for the Renters’ Rights Act....
Homebuyers Advised to Act Fast in Shifting Market
The UK property market started 2026 with strong buyer demand, improved supply and a dip in mortgage rates, highlighted by Rightmove’s biggest asking‑price jump in 25 years. Six weeks later, geopolitical tensions after US and Israeli strikes on Iran drove...
New Link-Up Aims to Streamline Lettings – Here’s How
HomeLet and Let Alliance have linked their Vision+ tenancy management platform with the Street.co.uk CRM, enabling letting agents to share property, landlord and tenant data across both systems. The integration eliminates manual data entry, cuts error risk, and allows agents...
Rightmove Updates Tools for Letting Agents Ahead of Renters’ Rights Act
Rightmove is upgrading its Tenancy Manager and the Rightmove Plus dashboard to help letting agents meet the new Renters’ Rights Act requirements. The Tenancy Manager now produces compliant tenancy agreements, notifies existing tenants of changes, and updates referencing criteria after the...
HMO Market Booms with Surge in Licence Applications
The UK’s House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) sector has experienced a 40% jump in licence applications since 2018, climbing from 41,162 to 57,725. Growth is concentrated in university towns such as Edinburgh, Oxford and Bristol, while Midlands and northern areas...
BTL Landlords Continue to Flee the Rental Sector
Buy-to-let landlords in the UK are still exiting the private rental sector, but the pace is slowing. Goodlord’s survey of 1,200 landlords shows 24% are actively selling or considering selling property, down from 35% a year earlier. Meanwhile, 72% are...
New Agency Enters the Market Today
Gradwells Lettings, an independent letting‑only firm, opened today in Walsall and will serve the broader West Midlands, including Birmingham and Wolverhampton. The company was founded by Joe Fletcher, who spent nearly 12 years at Countrywide and Connells rising from apprentice...
Would Revealing Rival Offers Curb Gazumping?
Open for Offer is launching the UK’s first transparent property marketplace, publishing an anonymised, real‑time order book for each listing. By showing every bid’s amount, timing, chain status and funding type, the platform aims to curb gazumping, which has affected...
Historic Estate Agency Unveils Major Rebrand
Strutt & Parker, a 140‑year‑old UK estate agency, has launched a comprehensive rebrand to sharpen its appeal in prime and rural property markets. The new visual identity features a darker claret colour scheme, an updated wordmark while preserving the historic...
Prime House Price Falls Ease as Sales Activity Holds Firm
Prime property prices in the UK eased in Q1 2026, with central London down 0.7% (≈$43 k) and the broader London domestic market slipping 0.5%. South West and West London held flat, bucking the overall decline, while regional prime markets fell only...
Instant Home Report Quotes Launched by Agent
DM Hall LLP has introduced an online instant‑quote platform for Home Reports, allowing Scottish homeowners to obtain pricing and pay for the service in real time. The tool operates 24/7 via the firm’s website, delivering immediate cost transparency. Managing partner...
Major Housebuilder Halts Land Purchases Amid Slowdown in Buyer Demand
Berkeley Group announced it will pause all new land acquisitions as rising construction costs, tighter regulation and weakening buyer demand make new purchases uneconomic. The London‑focused developer kept its pre‑tax profit guidance at £450 million (about $576 million) for the year to...
Letting Agents to Offer ‘Pet Interviews’ Under New Law
From 1 May 2026 tenants in the private rented sector can legally request to keep pets, and landlords must not refuse unreasonably. The new legislation prompts letting agents to add “pet interviews” to their vetting process, assessing temperament and gathering veterinary references....