First week of housing market reopening in England – the stats so far
May 29, 2020
First week in the rental market
DEMAND
- Demand for rental property is up 33% compared to this time last year as the market reopens and renters jump into action, with Monday 18th May seeing the highest level of rental demand ever recorded in one day on Rightmove
STOCK & LET AGREED
- Almost 23,000 new rental listings have come to the market since the first day of reopening, down 10% on the same week last year
- Total available stock for rent is now up 13% since before lockdown
PRICES
- Asking rents are currently up 2.1% on 2019, down from an annual rate of 3% before lockdown. They are on average £1,089 per calendar month (for all of Great Britain)
BIGGEST RISERS
- Biggest increase in rental searches compared to last year are in Rotherham (+97%), Cambridge (+77%) and St Helens (+75%)
First week in the resale market
DEMAND
- Demand for property up for sale is now down just 7% compared to this time last year, and up 120% compared to the previous week
STOCK & SALES AGREED
- Almost 11,000 new sales listings have come to the market since the first day of reopening, 65% down on the same week last year although improving from 90% down during lockdown
- There is currently £230 billion worth of property currently on Rightmove, circa 95% of the housing market
- Total available stock for sale is down 2.5% since before lockdown
REDUCTIONS
- 1% of properties up for sale have been reduced over the past week, compared to 2% over the same week last year
- The average size of a reduction over the past week was 4.5%, the same size of a reduction as in the same week last year
ASKING PRICES
- Average asking prices of all property up for sale are up 2% on last year, the same as before the lockdown. The current average is £311,828 (for all of Great Britain)
BIGGEST RISERS
- Biggest increase in buyer searches compared to last year are Manchester (+60%), Liverpool (+54%) and Leeds (+38%)
TRAFFIC ON SITE
- On Tuesday 19th May Rightmove recorded the busiest day since Thursday 5th March, with almost 5.3 million visits, up 4% on the same day in May last year
Rightmove’s Housing Market expert, Miles Shipside, comments: “One week on from the surprise opening of the housing market and agents are still showing caution and quite rightly putting safety first, but many had already started to prepare during lockdown and so have been able to start reopening their branches and conducting viewings. The activity jump on Rightmove proves the determination of home-movers to continue with their plans over the next few months. The pause button put many of the usual metrics we report on out of kilter and so a week’s worth of data should only be taken as an early indication of activity, but it’s certainly encouraging.”
You May Also Enjoy
Landlord Demographics Remain Broadly Unchanged
Propertymark analyses the latest figures from the English Private Landlord Survey 2024, published alongside headline findings from the English Housing Survey 2024–25, showing that the profile of private landlords in England has remained remarkably consistent with previous surveys, even as landlords navigate ongoing tax changes and evolving standards and expectations. The data highlights that the…
Read More 
London’s most prestigious postcodes revealed
The latest research from Enness Global has revealed London’s 11 most prestigious postcodes based on average sold price data, with the SW1A postcode covering Mayfair and St James’s topping the table, where the average home sold for £2.375m. Enness Global analysed sold price data from the Land Registry, examining transactions to have completed across London’s…
Read More 
Software GDTJ45 Builder Problems: Causes, Solutions, and Best Practices
If you’ve been using GDTJ45 Builder software, you might have noticed it’s not always as smooth and reliable as expected. From installation errors to unexpected crashes and slow performance, many users experience problems that can disrupt workflow, delay projects, and cause frustration. This article will walk you through the most common GDTJ45 Builder problems, explain…
Read More 
Developers draw confidence from improving lending landscape
Jonathan Samuels, CEO of Octane Capital, believes that improving conditions across the lending landscape have helped to boost developer confidence heading into a new year, despite a number of challenges still remaining, with specialist finance remaining a key weapon in their arsenal. The latest survey of UK property developers, commissioned by specialist lender Octane Capital,…
Read More 
Happy New Year! UK construction performance finishes 2025 on a high
GLENIGAN INDEX: UK construction starts 2026 on a stronger footing with 2025 concluded with a significant increase in project starts during the Index period The value of project starts increased by 7% during Q.4, but remained 7% below 2024 levels. Residential construction starts declined by 2% in the preceding three months and by 20% against…
Read More 
Prime London homeowners unmoved by mansion tax
The latest look at prime London property supply from Jefferies London has shown that the volume of homes priced at £2m or more listed for sale across Prime Central London (PCL) fell by -9.3% during the fourth quarter of 2025, but £2m+ homes still account for 35% of PCL stock. Jefferies London analysed current for-sale…
Read More