UK Property Market 2026: Momentum Building in Week 3
We are still only three weeks into 2026, so caution is still required when analyzing the market trends. This is not the moment for sweeping forecasts, but it is the moment to pay attention to what is quietly firming up beneath the surface. As experts in the field, it’s essential to consider the historical context and year-on-year comparisons to understand the current market dynamics.
Understanding the Market Context
The same health warning on year-on-year comparisons still applies. Early 2025 was turbocharged by the spring Stamp Duty deadline, pulling demand forward and distorting the baseline. Against that inflated backdrop, 2026 continues to run slightly behind the same point last year, which remains entirely logical now that the incentive has gone. However, this comparison only tells part of the story, and it’s crucial to consider more representative years to get a clearer picture of the market.
When you step back and compare Week 3 of 2026 with more representative years, the tone changes. Sales agreed are comfortably ahead of Week 3 2024, stronger than 2023, and materially above pre-Covid norms. This is not a hesitant market; it is one where buyers are turning intent into action. According to recent data, in Week 3 alone, 24,581 homes went Sold STC, well ahead of the ten-year Week 3 average of 23.4k.
Supply and Demand in Balance
Supply is also playing its part in the current market. New listings hit 35,190 last week, up on the prior week and running ahead of both the long-term average and recent years. Buyers have choice, which is healthy, and yet despite that, prices continue to edge higher, with house prices up 0.6%. This combination points to balance, not froth, in the market. The fact that prices are holding firm, despite increased supply, suggests that demand is being driven by genuine buyer confidence rather than artificial stimulus.
So, yes, it is still early, and comparisons with early 2025 remain skewed. However, strip out the distortion, and Week 3 reinforces the same message as Week 2. Sales activity is running well ahead of normal years, supply is strong, prices are holding firm, and demand is being driven by genuine buyer confidence. This is not noise; it is a signal that the UK property market is building momentum in 2026.
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