Current figures for the UK residential property market present a multi-layered picture of the current market situation. In calendar week 41 of 2026, a total of 32,200 new properties were listed for marketing. This influx of new listings highlights the ongoing willingness of owners to bring residential properties to the market.
At the same time, the demand side reflects noticeable restraint. Cumulative sales volume since the start of the year is currently 7.5 per cent below the comparative figure for the previous year, 2025. Market observers are therefore recording a divergence between new supply and actual completed sales in the year to date.
Completion rates lag behind long-term figures
The more cautious stance is also reflected in marketing efficiency. According to recent market data from PropertyWire, 54 per cent of properties leaving estate agents' books in September resulted in a formal exchange of contracts and subsequent legal completion.
This completion rate is noticeably below the historical average. The seven-year average for this metric stands at 57.6 per cent. The difference indicates that a larger proportion of properties is currently being withdrawn from the market unsold or transactions are falling through prior to legal completion.
- —32,200 new residential property listings in calendar week 41 of 2026
- —7.5 per cent decline in transaction volume year to date compared with 2025
- —Successful completion rate of 54 per cent in September compared with a seven-year average of 57.6 per cent
Taken together, the findings paint a picture of a market environment in which new sales listings continue to be added steadily, yet the path to successful contract completion faces greater hurdles. For sellers and intermediaries, this primarily means longer marketing periods and more demanding negotiations before final completion.
