Over 1.2m homes sold across the UK
The latest analysis of Government transaction data by GetAgent.co.uk has revealed that, despite widespread perceptions that 2025 was a difficult year for the property market, more than 1.2m homes sold across the UK, marking a 9.3% increase on the previous year.
GetAgent analysed Government data on UK property transactions to estimate how many homes sold across the UK in 2025, as well as the level of market activity that could be seen over the coming 12 months.
The research shows that while 2025 has often been labelled a subdued year for the UK property market, not least due to higher interest rates and a prolonged period of market uncertainty that culminated with the Autumn Budget in November, an estimated 1,204,512 property sales completed last year.
Regionally, England saw the highest number of homes change hands, with 1,020,357 transactions completing in 2025, up 9.9% versus 2024. While Wales saw just 52,945 sales complete across the year, it recorded the strongest annual uplift in market activity, up 10.3% year on year.
In Scotland, transaction levels climbed to 104,231 in 2025, marking an annual increase of 3.8%, while Northern Ireland saw 26,979 transactions complete, up 5.9%.
GetAgent’s analysis also highlights how the market regained momentum following the initial rush of activity driven by buyers keen to complete ahead of 1st April when stamp duty thresholds reverted back to their original levels.
Q1 saw the highest number of UK transactions complete in 2025, totalling 339,600, as buyers pushed to get deals over the line ahead of the stamp duty deadline. While transaction levels dipped in Q2 to just 235,430 following this deadline-driven surge, the market regained momentum as the year progressed, with 309,440 transactions recorded in Q3 and an estimated 320,042 completing in Q4.
Based on historic market trends, GetAgent also forecasts that 2026 should bring another positive year for market momentum, with transaction levels expected to climb by a further 1.2% across the UK. While this uplift may appear muted in comparison to 2025’s annual growth, it would see total transaction levels rise to an estimated 1,219,000 in 2026, building on the strong foundations already laid last year.
Colby Short, CEO of GetAgent, commented:
“We’ve heard a lot of noise around 2025 market conditions and how it was a tough year for the UK property market. While that may be true to an extent when it comes to asking prices achieved, transaction estimates tell a very different story, one of underlying strength and momentum.
Of course, we did see a stamp duty fuelled surge in activity back in March which helped to boost transaction levels across the year as a whole, but the wider picture is one of stability and growth which puts the market in great stead for 2026.
From our own internal GetAgent data, we’re currently outpacing last year’s results. In the first full week of January, we delivered a record 11,311 valuation referrals, marking a 101% increase year on year and our strongest start to January to date.
It’s encouraging to see so many of our agent partners responding proactively and capitalising on this increased seller activity.”
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