The UK housing market has taken a sharp dip in June, with a 9.4% decline in home sales compared to the same period last year. Just 99,000 homes were sold subject to contract during the first four full weeks of the month – a significant slowdown that industry experts attribute to rocketing mortgage costs and the ongoing political uncertainty.
But while sales activity has slowed, it's essential to consider this in context. The total number of home sales agreed in June still outstrips those achieved in 2023, suggesting that the market is merely adjusting rather than facing a severe downturn. Year-to-date, over 620,000 UK homes have been sold subject to contract – 6.6% lower than 2025 but 11% higher than 2023 and 7.9% above the pre-Covid average.
New listings remain strong, with nearly 931,000 homes entering the market so far this year. This healthy supply of properties could provide more options for prospective buyers – despite the dip in sales. The average asking price for homes sold subject to contract in May was £375,000, while prices per square foot reached an average of £349.64, marking a 1.9% increase over the past 12 months.
For first-time buyers, persistently high mortgage rates continue to pose significant affordability challenges, despite some easing in house price growth. Existing homeowners may face higher monthly repayments or need to adjust their pricing expectations when remortgaging or selling. Data shows that one in seven UK homes for sale had prices reduced in May – a 0.6% increase on the previous year and above the long-term average.
Meanwhile, landlords continue to benefit from strong rental demand, with average UK rents reaching £1,811 per month in June 2026, up from £1,791 in the same period last year. This reflects persistent demand and a slight decrease in available rental stock.
The proportion of homes completing their sale after being agreed remains relatively stable. In May 2026, 54.8% of homes left estate agents' books exchanged and completed – slightly below the seven-year average but above the decade-long average for fall-through rates.