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.

UK Housing Market Sees Increased Stock and Emphasis on Accurate Pricing

The number of UK homes sold subject to contract is 6.8% below the same point last year, with approximately 47,000 fewer sales agreed so far in 2026. However, market activity remains above longer-term averages, with sales agreed still 7.3% higher than at the same stage in 2019 and 10.3% ahead of 2023 levels.

The latest figures, covering week 26 of 2026 (ending 5 July), show that while the market has cooled from the stronger conditions seen in 2025, transaction levels remain relatively resilient. With more homes available for sale, buyers have greater choice and sellers are facing increased competition, making accurate pricing more critical.

Market Activity and Stock Levels

In week 26, there were 36,500 new listings, compared to 35,400 the previous week. The weekly average for 2026 stands at 37,200, with the year-to-date total at 967,000 new listings—identical to 2025 and 4.6% ahead of 2024. This is also 12.5% higher than the 2017–19 average for the same period.

There were 23,800 homes sold subject to contract in week 26, slightly below the 10-year average of 26,000. The year-to-date figure for house sales is 644,000, which is 6.8% lower than 2025 but 0.8% higher than 2024 and 10.7% higher than 2023. Net residential sales for the year to date are 502,000, 5.2% lower than 2025 but 0.3% ahead of 2024 and 12.3% ahead of 2023.

Stock levels remain high, with 760,000 homes on the market as of 1 July 2026, compared to 747,000 the previous month and 763,000 a year ago. The sales pipeline includes 475,000 homes, down from 493,000 a year earlier.

Pricing and Market Dynamics

Price reductions have become more common, with 25,800 reductions reported in a week and 14.3% of homes for sale reduced in June, up from 13.4% in May. The 2026 year-to-date average for reductions is 12.9%, compared to a six-year average of 10.7%.

The difference between the average asking price of listings and those sold subject to contract is 16.6%, with the average listing at £423,000 and the average sale agreed at £369,000. The sell-through rate in June 2026 was 13.8%, compared to a pre-Covid average of 15.5%.

For letting agents and inventory clerks, these trends highlight the importance of accurate pricing and awareness of increased competition in the current market.