UK monthly property transactions for May 2025
Headline statistics from the latest transactions data include:
- the provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in May 2025 is 81,470, 12% lower than May 2024 and 25% higher than April 2025
- the provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in May 2025 is 80,530, 13% lower than May 2024 and 42% higher than April 2025
- the provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK non-residential transactions in May 2025 is 9,760, 5% lower than May 2024 and 4% higher than April 2025
- the provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK non-residential transactions in May 2025 is 9,520, 9% lower than May 2024 and marginally lower (less than 1%) than April 2025
Executive Summary
Figures for seasonally adjusted residential transactions in May 2025 have increased by 25% compared with 65,110 in April 2025 to 81,470. These numbers have been affected by the changes in Stamp Duty Land Tax Rates in England and Northern Ireland in April 2025. On 1 April 2025, the nil-rate threshold, which had been £250,000, returned to the previous level of £125,000. The nil-rate threshold for first-time buyers also decreased on 1 April 2025, from £425,000 to £300,000. The increase in transactions for May follows decreased transactions for April, which were likely brought forward into March to take advantage of the higher thresholds.
Non-seasonally adjusted residential transactions increased by 42% in May 2025 compared to April 2025.
Seasonally adjusted non-residential transactions have also seen an increase, with figures for May 2025 increasing by 4% relative to April 2025. Seasonally adjusted non-residential transactions are 5% lower than in May 2024.
Non-seasonally adjusted non-residential transactions are marginally lower (less than 1%) relative to April 2025.
Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, comments:
“It is extremely positive to see an enhanced magnitude of transactions month-on-month.
“But considering new Stamp Duty thresholds across England and Northern Ireland have kicked in, it’s understandable we have seen a considerable drop in housing transactions year-on-year.
“The housing market saw a mass rush of people working at pace to complete on their housing purchase to avoid any increased Stamp Duty liability. Nonetheless, we have seen positivity regarding the number of properties coming to the market, which has delivered a year-on-year increase of almost 15 per cent.”
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