Price growth and sales activity subdued according to RICS

August 10, 2017

The RICS UK Residential Market Survey for the month of July published today headlines ‘Activity in UK housing market faltering’.

The survey reveals record low stock numbers, political uncertainty and the aftermath of tax changes are obstacles hindering the UK housing market with price growth and sales activity subdued during the month of July.

The headline price growth gauge slipped from +7% to +1%, signalling prices were broadly flat over the period and representing the softest reading.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, commented: “Sales activity in the housing market has been slipping in the recent months and the most worrying aspect of the latest survey is the suggestion that this could continue for some time to come. One reason for this is the recent series of tax changes, but this is only part of the story. Lack of new build in the wake of the financial crisis is a more fundamental factor weighing on the market. And there are some very real consequences for the economy from all of this including the impact on the ability of people to be mobile when looking for work.

“The flatter trend in price growth is arguably a silver lining, but there is no real indication that the housing market will become materially more affordable anytime soon. Hence the need for the government to press ahead with the Build to Rent initiative, as well as continuing to focus on other tenures alongside home ownership to try address this critical issue”.

Read the RICS UK Residential Market Survey for the month of July 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

Home and Living

FIVE food cupboard cleaning products that beat the branded – all under £1.50!

Use white wine vinegar to get rid of yellow pillow stains Many cleaning products Brits already have in their food cupboards Cleaning expert on five cleaning products that can help clean your bedroom From limescale to stubborn stains, many household messes can be tackled with items that are probably at the back of your food…
Read More →
Breaking News

Taxing times for bereaved families as IHT receipts hit a fresh record

Inheritance Tax receipts for April 2025 to March 2026 are £8.5 billion, which is £0.2 billion higher than the same period last year. This surpasses the £8.2 billion recorded the previous year and marks a fifth consecutive annual record. Rising receipts come amid intensified enforcement and public criticism that the inheritance tax system is unfairly…
Read More →
Breaking News

UK property management sector tops £37bn

The latest research from Property Inspect reveals that the UK property and facilities management sector grew by 4.1% in 2025, with annual revenue surpassing £37.7 billion. Forecasts suggest that 2026 will see this figure continue to rise. Property Inspect has analysed data on the estimated market size of the UK’s facilities and property management industry,…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

How Estate Agents in Cambridge Support First-Time Buyers

Buying your first home can feel both exciting and overwhelming. If you are doing it in a city like Cambridge, you can probably dial that terror up a few notches. It is a place where historic charm meets a high-octane tech economy, and that combination creates a property market that operates differently from many other…
Read More →
Breaking News

UK House Price Index for February 2026

The latest UK House Price Index for February 2026 shows that:   The average monthly rate of house price growth in February was +0.1%. Average UK house price annual inflation was 1.2% in the 12 months to February 2026. As a result, the average UK house price currently sits at £268,000.   Damien Jefferies, Founder…
Read More →
Breaking News

Ready or Not: How Prepared Are Landlords and Tenants for the Renters’ Rights Act?

44% of landlords and 64% of tenants say they are not confident about what will actually change when the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force. New research from LRG shows that while the Act is widely known about, what it means in practice is still unclear for many people on both sides of the tenancy.…
Read More →