Rightmove is predicting a bigger-than-usual Boxing Day Bounce this year, as many of those who paused their plans due to Budget uncertainty are expected to join the traditional post-Christmas boost in home-moving activity.
Its survey of more than 10,000 potential movers revealed that nearly one in five were waiting for the outcome of the Budget before resuming their plans, underlining the scale of pent-up demand now ready to return. Rightmove says there are already “very early signs of a post-Budget market rebound” in some segments, though the usual festive slowdown has delayed a wider bounce-back.
In London, the number of new sellers coming to market at the top end – the area hardest hit by speculation – was up by 24% in the week after the Budget compared with the week before, as some who had been waiting for clarity acted.
Rightmove’s Boxing Day Bounce is an annual event where we see many begin or resume their plans to move after the distraction of Christmas.”
Rightmove adds that many new listings are being held back specifically for launch on or just after Boxing Day to match this wave of returning demand.
Colleen Babcock (pictured), Head of Partner Marketing at Rightmove, says: “The market will soon benefit from the traditional boost in home-moving activity from Boxing Day. Rightmove’s Boxing Day Bounce is an annual event where we see many begin or resume their plans to move after the distraction of Christmas.”
A better 2026
Moving forward, Rightmove expects 2026 to be much more like the encouraging first half of this year rather than the subdued second half, when early Budget rumours unsettled buyers and sellers. The portal says improving affordability, strong buyer choice and a clearer economic backdrop should support higher levels of activity next year, resulting in modest upwards pressure on prices.
Babcock adds: “With market conditions supporting higher levels of activity, and a hopefully more certain economic environment, we forecast a better year for price growth in 2026 with a strong rebound in activity to kick start the year,” and Rightmove is predicting average new seller asking prices will rise by around 2% in 2026.
With sellers coming to the market and buyers potentially ready to pounce, as well as lower mortgage rates, the scene looks set for a bounce at the start of 2026.”
Tomer Aboody, MT Finance
Tomer Aboody, a director of specialist lender MT Finance, says: “With the Budget now over and done with, the uncertainty and hesitancy also over and buyers are ready to make their move. Despite a lot of negative speculation beforehand, the Budget left the property market mostly unscathed.
“With sellers coming to the market and buyers potentially ready to pounce, as well as lower mortgage rates, the scene looks set for a bounce at the start of 2026.
“With the money markets expecting another base rate cut, the improved affordability this will bring will encourage movement – and the market certainly needs that encouragement.”
On the ground, we’ve noticed many buyers and sellers have been sitting on their hands, fearing the worst from the Chancellor, before deciding whether to act.”
Jeremy Leaf, Principal, Jeremy Leaf & Co
Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former RICS residential chairman, says: “Our experience of the post-Budget period doesn’t chime with Rightmove’s, but perhaps that’s because the UK’s largest property portal measures asking or aspirational prices rather than values.
“On the ground, we’ve noticed many buyers and sellers have been sitting on their hands, fearing the worst from the Chancellor, before deciding whether to act.
“The damp squib of a Budget has heartened those in the more price-sensitive £500,000 to £1 million bracket who are breathing a sigh of relief. Those in and around the ‘Mansion Tax’ levels are generally proving more cautious and not contemplating moves unless circumstances dictate – or at least further details of charging emerge.
“As a result, we expect a two-tier market to develop in the early New Year with demand gradually increasing for smaller homes, particularly if the base rate is reduced sooner rather than later.
“We generally find Boxing Day generates a lot of enquiries, of which a significant proportion are of relatively poor quality. “