Agents face growing stock backlog as slower market leaves more homes unsold
The latest research by GetAgent has revealed that estate agents are facing a growing backlog of unsold homes as the proportion of stock being converted into sales has fallen across almost every region of the market over the last year.
GetAgent analysed current sales turnover rates across the market, measuring the number of homes sold per month as a proportion of all homes currently listed for sale and how this level of turnover has changed when compared to the same time last year.
The research shows that, across England, the average monthly sales turnover rate has fallen from 17% in April 2025 to 14% in April 2026. This means that while homes are still coming to market, a smaller proportion are being sold each month, leaving agents carrying more stock for longer.
The slowdown has been seen across every English region, with the North East seeing the largest drop in turnover, down from 24% to 20%. However, it remains the strongest-performing market in the country despite this decline.
The East of England has seen turnover fall from 14% to 12%, while both the South East and West Midlands have also seen notable declines.
In London, monthly sales turnover has slipped from 12% to just 9%, meaning fewer than one in 10 homes currently listed for sale is being sold each month.
Only Wales has avoided a decline, with turnover remaining broadly static at 13%.
The findings suggest that agents are increasingly having to work harder to convert existing instructions into sales, with homes taking longer to sell and more stock remaining on the market for extended periods.
Co-Founder and CEO of GetAgent, Colby Short, commented:
“At a headline level, there’s still plenty of activity in the market, but the pace at which homes are selling has clearly slowed over the last year.
That’s leaving many agents with pipelines that look healthy on paper, but take longer to convert into completed deals, which puts real pressure on time, resources and ultimately cashflow.
From what we’re seeing, an important part of managing a slower market comes down to setting expectations early. Sellers often underestimate how long it can take to secure a buyer, particularly if they’re working towards a specific move date, and don’t always engage with an agent far enough in advance.
The agents performing best in the current climate tend to be those who are pricing realistically from the outset and qualifying sellers carefully.”
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