Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Strategy. Read the original article for full details.

HMRC Reports 3% Drop in UK Property Transactions for April 2026

UK residential property transactions fell by 3% in April 2026 compared to March, according to the latest figures released by HMRC. Seasonally adjusted transactions reached 101,030 for the month, while non-seasonally adjusted transactions stood at 85,880, representing a 16% decrease from March.

Despite the month-on-month decline, both seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted figures were significantly higher than those recorded in April 2025. Seasonally adjusted transactions were up 53% year-on-year, and non-seasonally adjusted transactions increased by 51%. HMRC attributed this large annual increase to weak activity in April 2025, which followed changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax thresholds that took effect on 1 April 2025. Many buyers completed purchases in March 2025 to avoid the new thresholds, resulting in lower transaction numbers in April 2025.

Non-residential property transactions also saw a decrease in April 2026. Seasonally adjusted non-residential transactions dropped 6% from March to 9,960, though this figure was still 1% higher than in April 2025. Non-seasonally adjusted non-residential transactions totalled 9,860, slightly lower than April 2025 and 20% below March 2026 levels.

HMRC noted that these figures are based on completed sales, which typically occur two to four months after an offer is made. As a result, the data may not reflect current market conditions.

These trends are relevant for UK letting agents and inventory clerks, as fluctuations in transaction volumes can impact demand for rental properties and related services.