The UK property market recorded 874,000 homes sold subject to contract in the year to date through week 36 of 2026, representing a 7.3% decline compared to the same period in 2025, according to latest market data analysed by property commentator Chris Watkin and industry analyst Bryan Mansell.
The figures reveal a mixed picture for the sector, with new listings reaching 1.299 million year to date, down 0.5% on 2025 but 2.6% ahead of 2024 levels. Weekly new listings in week 36 totalled 36,700 properties, above the ten-year average of 35,000 for the same period.
Transaction completion rates decline
Net sales, which account for gross sales minus fall-throughs, stood at 676,000 for the year to date, down 6.1% on 2025 and 1.2% lower than 2024. The data shows that in August 2026, only 55% of homes that left agents’ books exchanged and completed, with the remaining 45% withdrawn unsold. This compares unfavourably to the seven-year average exchange to listings ratio of 57.6%.
The sell-through rate, measuring the proportion of homes on agents’ books that went under offer, reached 13.3% in August 2026, down from 14.2% in July and below the pre-pandemic average of 15.5%. The fall-through rate for week 36 stood at 25.1%, marginally above the decade average of 24.5%.
These figures come as estate agency job vacancies reach 1,300 across England, suggesting continued challenges within the sector.
Pricing and stock levels
Price reductions affected 28,100 properties in week 36, with 11.1% of UK homes for sale reduced in August, down from 13.7% in July. The year-to-date average of 12.8% remains above the six-year long-term average of 10.9%.
The gap between asking prices of new listings and properties going under offer widened significantly to 29.2% in week 36, nearly double the ten-year average of 16-17%. New listings averaged £456,000 asking price compared to £353,000 for properties achieving sale agreed status.
Stock levels stood at 742,000 homes on the market as of 1 September 2026, up from 736,000 twelve months earlier but down from 767,000 the previous month. The sales pipeline contained 479,000 homes, lower than the 508,000 recorded on 1 September 2025.
Price and rental data
Properties achieving sale agreed status in August 2026 averaged £338.41 per square foot, representing a modest 0.3% increase on twelve months prior and 9.5% higher than five years ago. This metric historically matches the HM Land Registry Index with 98% accuracy, five months in advance.
The rental sector showed average rents of £1,766 per calendar month in September 2026, down slightly from £1,791 in September 2025. Available rental stock decreased to 302,000 properties in September 2026 from 357,000 in August 2025, while new rental properties coming to market in August 2026 totalled 120,100, up from 115,584 in August 2025.
The analysis follows concerns about AI property research risks in the sector, as agents navigate increasingly complex market conditions. Additionally, conveyancers are adopting property transaction reforms aimed at improving completion rates.
Market outlook
The data suggests a property market operating below recent peak levels but ahead of 2023 performance. The 11% increase in sales compared to 2023 year-to-date figures indicates recovery from that period’s lows, while remaining 5.3% above pre-pandemic 2017-2019 averages.
The analysis highlighted regional variations and examined the Weymouth market as a case study, though specific regional breakdowns were referenced without detailed publication of the August 2026 regional gross sales analysis.
