UK housing sales remain subdued according to RICS
July 17, 2018
Latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey published 12th July 2018 headlined ‘UK housing sales remain subdued as rent expectations continue to heat up’.
The RICS survey reveals that: significantly, over the month, newly agreed sales have recorded the sixteenth successive month of continued decline, with 7% more respondents reporting a fall in agreed sales.
The survey states: For the second month in a row, new instructions have risen, with 10% more respondents seeing an increase in the flow of properties being put up for sale. However, with average stocks remaining close to historic lows at 43 it would be too early to suggest that this issue is lessening as an obstacle.
Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist said:
“It is hard to see what is going to provide much impetus for activity in the housing market in the near term. Meanwhile the on-going challenges around lifting the delivery pipeline, reflected in last week’s disappointing data on housing starts, is captured in the suspicion in the survey that prices are likely to resume an upward course over the coming year. The challenge is also visible in the response of the private lettings market to change to the tax treatment on investment properties. While it is understandable that the government wanted to provide a lift for first time buyers, this may well come at the cost of higher rents as the appeal of buy to let diminishes.”
Read the latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey 12th July 2018 in full click here.
You May Also Enjoy
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 
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 
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 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 
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 
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