2026 – the year of political uncertainty…
The Winter Budget has left us slightly nervous about the harsh reality of impending taxes, but in actuality, nothing has really changed. 2025 really has been a buyer’s market, with buyers noticing there is “a plethora of cheap homes on the market”, and this is certainly what we are seeing.
It is inevitable that the 2025 winter market will be the slowest we have seen for more than a decade, with some critics commenting that it feels worse than the 2008 crash.
So is this not the right time to sell your unique home?
How does the 2026 property market look?
It is naturally assumed that London property prices will always increase, even in a down market, and normally this is in line with inflation. But as the statistics and predictions show, nothing has changed.
The market will increase in line with CPI (3-4% – MoneyWeek), whilst we will see a lower rise in UK-wide property prices (1%-2.2% – MoneyWeek). Prime central London will see the smallest rise at 1% (Savills), but of course it will experience the biggest increases and decreases in value.
Key influencing factors that are predicted to affect the change in the market include gradual cuts to the base interest rate from the Bank of England throughout 2026, leading to lower mortgage rates and improved buyer confidence, which will hopefully be an inevitable consequence.
Combined with the estimate that 30% of landlords are expected to sell by the deadline of 1 May 2026, ahead of the Renters’ Rights Bill implementation (Mortgage Strategy), there will be a large number of properties back on the market. Given we have seen a strong buyers’ market with offers being accepted right through to the end of 2025, it is no surprise that the London property market is set to return in full force.
A Unique Motivation of Spring
Spring is the official start of the selling season, and is often fuelled by a non-negotiable deadline for families with children. They look to move in time for the summer holiday season, ready for the new school year. Of course, this might not be the case in 2026, but we are yet to find a year when this does not happen.
As we are all facing a non-conventional market, one not seen for years, and with the current supply shortage of unique properties, this hopefully means that you should be able to achieve a much higher price than in 2025.
The current statistics support this, and many of our clients find that by listing in a spring market, they will be going into the best season for a renewed sense of selling. With the spring sunshine, buyers always return with vigour and are enticed to get a move on to find their perfect unique home.
In London, the property market is always poised for a return to “business as normal”, regardless of tough economic times. A period of stability is long overdue…
And as an aside… more homes are for sale than you think!
As our recent Sunday supplement has alluded to, many properties do not hit the open market and never appear online. As our offline series of properties highlights, it is a fantastic opportunity to test the 2026 market.
Many homes that we sell never appear online, and we’re not just talking about a tiny fraction of activity. A lot is happening under the radar, with 15.8% of all properties sold nationally sold off-market (Property Reporter).
We have a new, dedicated database just for prospective buyers of unique off-line homes. If you’d like to be included and be the first to hear about these opportunities, please call 020 3987 1739 to confidentially discuss your requirements.
For sellers, our approach offers the same distinct advantage. To confidentially find the right buyer for your exceptional home, we invite you to speak directly with us.
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