HMRC shows transactions down 9.6% month on month – Industry reaction

Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, commented

“Scary reading on the face of it, but it’s important to note that this data is reported with a bit of a lag and so the level of transactions being relayed are really those accepted back in March.

With many of us, perhaps foolishly, believing we would be exiting the EU at the end of March, it stands to reason that the vast majority of buyers may have refrained from a sale until this event had passed.

Therefore any dip in transactions should be viewed as a momentary stutter and with many other market indicators suggesting a return to form and growing levels of buyer demand over the last few months, we should start to see the number of properties being sold climb from here on in.”

Founder and CEO of Springbok Properties, Shepherd Ncube, commented:

“A lull in transactions will come as a cause for concern in what is currently a rather fragile market landscape, however, the broader picture simply doesn’t suggest a market that is on its knees.

Homebuyer appetite is alive and well and while many may not want to fill up on bread until the main course of Brexit is finally served, we are on course to see a healthy level of properties transact this year regardless.

We can only hope that a new prime minister doesn’t rock the boat and in fact, he could help to steady it to a degree. But while suggestions of housing first initiatives such as a transferral of stamp duty tax to the seller may help boost buyer demand, we must be sure not to restrict the flow of housing stock reaching the market by deterring sellers financially.”

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

AI in estate agency letting agency property
Breaking News

Can AI-powered search platform push out Rightmove for renters?

Boss of global architecture firm takes on Rightmove with AI-powered search platform where renters describe where they want to live An AI-powered start-up launched by the former boss of a major architecture business wants to disrupt the duopoly of Rightmove and Zoopla by enabling renters to find homes by using normal everyday language – as…
Read More
Breaking News

Midlands sees largest property management fees increase

The latest research from Rushbrook & Rathbone has found that property management fees in the Midlands have increased by an estimated 53.9% over the past decade, the fastest rate of growth across England’s regions, highlighting a widening divide in costs between the North, Midlands, and South. The research analysed average rental values across England’s regions…
Read More
Breaking News

Continued season momentum with applicant demand up for lettings

Foxtons Lettings Market Index – May 2026 Continued season momentum with applicant demand up month on month and supply increasing.   The season’s momentum carried on undeterred. Applicant demand climbed sharply month on month, supply held ahead of last year and the market stayed balanced through it all. Competition eased compared with last year, with…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 22/6/26

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Eco Approach Collaborate with Leading UK Buy-to-Let Lender The Mortgage Works to Deliver Free Energy Assessments for Landlords Ahead of 2030 Deadline. Eco Approach selected as the expert retrofit partner for a major new energy efficiency pilot. Initiative addresses critical knowledge gap, with 67% of UK…
Read More
Breaking News

How to secure a rented home if you used to pay rent up front

One change that has come into effect under the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) is that landlords may no longer accept more than one month’s rent in advance of a tenancy beginning. Previously, there was no limit to how much rent tenants could pay up front to secure a property, which was particularly helpful in certain…
Read More
Kerb appeal
Breaking News

Whoever Leads Britain Next Must Focus on Growth, Housing and Opportunity

Neil Louth – Group Executive Director, LRG and CEO, Acorn Group From my perspective, the question is less about who occupies Number 10 and more about what they do once they get there. Whether it is Sir Keir Starmer continuing in office, Andy Burnham emerging as a future challenger, or someone else entirely, the next…
Read More