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

HMRC Reports 53% Year-on-Year Surge in April House Sale Completions

UK residential property transactions reached 101,030 in April 2026 on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to HMRC. This marks a 53% increase compared to April 2025.

HMRC attributed the significant year-on-year rise to low transaction levels in April 2025, which followed changes to stamp duty thresholds. Many transactions were also brought forward to March 2025 so buyers could benefit from the previous, lower thresholds. Compared to March 2026, residential property transactions in April fell by 3% from 103,910.

On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, HMRC estimated 85,880 residential transactions in April 2026, which is 51% higher than the same month last year but 16% lower than March 2026.

For letting agents and inventory clerks, these figures indicate a notable increase in market activity compared to the previous year, although there was a slight dip from the previous month. The data may signal a return to more typical transaction volumes following the stamp duty changes in 2025.

The report also notes that the market environment in April was influenced by previous economic conditions and policy changes. The Bank of England held interest rates at 3.75% for a second consecutive meeting during April, and some lenders began to cut mortgage rates as market volatility eased.

Letting agents and inventory professionals should be aware of these trends, as increased transaction volumes can lead to higher demand for property services. However, the month-on-month decline and ongoing economic factors may continue to affect market stability in the coming months.