Countrywide says overall market for housing transactions in the UK was down 7% in the period

July 27, 2017

Countrywide PLC today announced Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2017.

They stated; The overall market for housing transactions in the UK was down 7%.  Our sales market share held broadly flat at 4.9% (2016: 5.1%) despite the effect of the on-going transformation of the business; we held or gained market share of listings in brands offering the digital proposition.

Commenting on the Group’s performance, Alison Platt, CEO said:

“We are building a stronger business for our future and remain on track with our goals to broaden our digital capability, reduce our operating cost base and strengthen our balance sheet.  Based on our current performance and the outlook for housing transactions in the UK, we expect our results and our leverage for the full year to be within the range of market expectations.

“As anticipated, the first half of 2017 was tough for the Group compared to the same period last year given the high levels of housing transactions brought forward in time as a result of the stamp duty changes and the EU referendum.  Our income versus the first six months of 2016 is down 10% and our adjusted EBITDA down 26%.

“We continue to serve our customers better, and this manifests strongly in our ability to win repeat business in lettings.  Our digital proposition in sales is also proving to be an important element in bringing choice and attracting more applicants and vendors to our brands.  At the same time our investment in a telephony sales channel in Financial Services is helping to grow our share of the mortgage market.  Our Surveying business has grown its profitability and increased the amount of mortgage valuations it has undertaken for its lender clients this year.  We are continuing to reshape our cost base, with total costs down £27 million from the six month period to 30 June 2016; we will continue to drive down cost and improve our productivity across the Group.

“Delivering for our customers and ‘self-help’ remains our mantra as we continue to build a stronger and more resilient business for the future.”

Read the Countrywide PLC Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2017 in full click here.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Breaking Property News 12/5/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Commercial real estate is entering a new era powered by artificial intelligence CRE is now powered by artificial intelligence, automation, smart data, and digital-first workflows. For decades, the industry relied heavily on spreadsheets, disconnected systems, and manual administration. Today, technology is becoming central to…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 11/5/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. Do You Really Own Your Building’s Data? Commercial real estate is becoming increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure. Every smart sensor, HVAC system, access control platform, tenant app, and connected device inside a building is generating valuable operational data. The critical question many owners still fail…
Read More →
Breaking News

Rental price and average salary tracker – April 2026

Mixed Rental Trends Emerge Across UK as Regional Price Gaps Widen Scotland recorded one of the strongest monthly increases, with average rents rising from £1,123 to £1,167 (+3.9% month-on-month), reinforcing continued upward pressure in the Scottish rental market. Northern Ireland also saw significant growth, with rents increasing from £887 to £920 (+3.7%), alongside a fall…
Read More →
Breaking News

Seller over-expectation still impacting market

Home sellers still overpricing as just two regions see realistic price expectations The latest internal data analysis from House Buyer Bureau has found that just two regions, London and the South East, are currently seeing seller expectations align with market reality, whilst the rest of the country continues to price above market value, contributing to…
Read More →
Breaking News

Fledgling homeowners cut costs by taking on fixer-uppers to achieve dream home

66% of first-time buyers bought a cheaper home because it needed DIY or renovation work done Many choosing a ‘fixer-upper’ were able to buy in their preferred location, add value and put their stamp on it DIY almost mandatory among first-time buyers, with 93% completing at least one project since moving in But three quarters…
Read More →
Breaking News

House Price Index for April 2026 – Thoughts from the Indutry

The latest Halifax House Price Index for April 2026 shows that: – On a monthly basis, house prices remained largely static, down by just -0.1% between March and April 2026. Annually, house prices were up 0.4%, albeit this rate of annual growth had slowed from 0.8% the previous month. As a result, the average house…
Read More →