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

Short-Term Home Moves in England and Wales Fall to Record Low

Short-term home moves have reached their lowest level on record, according to new analysis from Connells Group. The proportion of sellers in England and Wales who had owned their home for less than three years dropped to just 5% so far in 2026, compared to 8% in 2016 and 15% in 2006.

Connells Group’s analysis of Land Registry data also found that the proportion of sellers moving within five years has more than halved, falling from 29% in 2006 to 14% in 2026. The share of sellers moving within ten years has also declined, from 47% to 32% over the same period. The average seller in 2026 had owned their property for 12.3 years, up from 9.2 years a decade ago.

The report attributes the decline in short-term moves to higher transaction costs, increased mortgage rates, and weaker house price growth. Weaker price growth has resulted in more recent buyers facing losses when selling. In 2026, 20% of sellers who had owned their property for five years or less sold for less than they paid, compared to 6% in 2006. Among those selling within three years, 23% made a loss, up from 10% two decades ago.

The effect is particularly pronounced at the higher end of the market. Around 32% of homes originally bought for £1 million or more are now estimated to be worth less than their purchase price, compared with 7.5% of those bought for less than £1 million.

London has seen the sharpest change in moving patterns. Only 9% of sellers in the capital in 2026 had bought their property within the previous five years, down from 27% in 2006. An estimated 21% of London homes are now worth less than their owners paid, compared with 7.9% nationally.

The analysis suggests that the decline in turnover is occurring across every region and could have implications for transaction volumes and the efficiency of housing stock use.