UK Home Sales Are Down on 2025, But 75,000 Sales Is Hardly a Property Market in Crisis

During the first three whole weeks of June, the number of UK homes sold subject to contract was:

2023: 70.2k
2024: 77.8k
2025: 82.8k
2026: 75.0k

Yes, there were around 7.8k fewer sales agreed than during the same three weeks of June 2025 (a drop of 10.39%), so it would be wrong to pretend the market has not become more challenging.

However, 2025 was clearly the strongest of these four years. Compared with 2024, the difference is only around 2.8k sales across the entire UK (3.78% lower) and when compared with 2023, approximately 4.8k more homes have sold this year (6.45% higher).

The UK property market is not performing as strongly as it did last June, but neither has it collapsed. Still 75k home buyers agreed to buy a home in just three weeks.

The World Cup may also be having an effect. Previous major football tournaments have coincided with some buyers and sellers temporarily turning their attention elsewhere. Add wider economic and global uncertainty, and it is understandable that some households may delay making a major financial decision.

Looking at the regions, London remains the weakest part of the picture. Outside the capital, most regions are ahead of 2023 and several are broadly level with, or slightly ahead of, 2024.

What does all mean for Leicester people thinking of moving?

Homes are still selling. However, buyers have more choice and less urgency than they did last year. Sellers therefore need to be realistic about their asking price, presentation and choice of estate agent from the outset.

Yes, this is a tougher property market than 2025, yet it is not a bad market.