An Adjusting Housing Market – 2026

The UK housing market in 2025 has been described in many ways. Some have called it resilient, others subdued. The reality sits somewhere in between and, as ever, much depends on where you live.

Property performance over the past year has varied significantly by region. Homeowners in Northern Ireland generally saw healthy price growth, while some parts of London experienced small price corrections. Even so, most commentators agree that the market held up better than many had anticipated.

An Adjusting Housing Market

This is particularly notable given the challenges faced by buyers and sellers alike. Higher stamp duty, pre budget uncertainty and ongoing cost of living pressures all had the potential to slow activity. Instead, prices and transactions remained relatively stable, suggesting a market that has adjusted rather than stalled.

As we move into 2026, the key question is whether this period of modest growth will continue, or whether conditions will shift again.

Renting in 2026 continues to make sense for many households, particularly in London, where affordability and flexibility remain key considerations. Recent regulatory changes and shifting market conditions mean renting now offers greater stability and clearer expectations than in previous years.