Uncertainty surrounding the forthcoming Autumn Budget and potential changes to property taxes has contributed to a slowdown in the UK housing market, according to new research.
Landmark Information Group’s Q3 2025 Residential Property Trends Report, released today, indicates that residential property activity across England, Wales, and Scotland has remained largely flat, with the market pausing as buyers and sellers await further details on fiscal policy.
The report highlights that, while the usual summer dip in activity was observed in July and August, the expected uptick in September did not occur. In England and Wales, new property listings in the third quarter of 2025 were 1% lower than the same period last year. The number of properties marked as Sold Subject to Contract (SSTC) dropped by 6% year-on-year, maintaining a pattern seen throughout 2025.
Market confidence appears to remain subdued, with the report suggesting that uncertainty following last year’s general election continues to affect sentiment. Search order volumes in Q3 2025 were down 2% compared to Q3 2024, while completions edged up by 1% over the same period.
Transaction volumes remain below average, and the report notes ongoing inefficiencies in the property transaction process.
“People want to move, but speculation around potential changes to property taxes in the forthcoming Autumn Budget has caused activity to stall, with movers likely to be waiting for clarity before making their decisions,” said Simon Brown, chief executive of Landmark Information Group.
“This moment should be seen as an opportunity. Housing is a cornerstone of economic growth, yet the process of buying and selling homes remains too slow and uncertain. The government’s newly announced homebuying reform consultation is a vital and long-overdue step towards change.”
Last month, Landmark Information Group brought together sector leaders to launch Project 28, a charter for faster, more certain property transactions. The charter outlines eight industry-wide commitments aimed at reducing transaction times to 28 days, with a focus on collaboration, data sharing and technological improvements.
“Through the Project 28 Charter, we and our industry partners are committed to proving what’s possible: delivering faster, more certain transactions and cutting transaction times to just 28 days,” Brown said.
“If we modernise the process, we not only restore confidence to the market, we help unlock growth across the wider economy.”
