Ongoing speculation about the contents of the forthcoming Budget has also contributed to a more cautious market, limiting the typical autumn price rebound. Nonetheless, market activity for the year to date has shown resilience, though some areas remain hesitant.
“Despite the overall resilience of the 2025 housing market, we’ve not got enough pent-up momentum or recent positive sentiment to spur the usual autumn bounce in property prices,” said Colleen Babcock (pictured top centre), property expert at Rightmove. “We’re experiencing a decade-high level of property choice for buyers, which means that sellers who are serious about selling have had to acknowledge their limited pricing power and moderate their price expectations.
“In addition, speculation that the Budget may increase the cost of buying or owning a property at the higher end of the market, has given some movers, particularly in the south of England, a reason to wait and see what’s announced in the Budget.”
Comparisons with last year’s stronger market have led to declines in some year-on-year indicators. In September 2025, both new buyer demand and the number of new sellers entering the market were down 5% compared to a year earlier, while sales agreed dropped by 2%. However, for the year so far, new buyer demand is up 2% on 2024, and both sales agreed and new listings are 5% higher than in the first nine months of last year.
The market remains highly sensitive to price, making accurate initial pricing crucial. Rightmove’s data indicates that homes receiving an enquiry on their first day of marketing are 22% more likely to find a buyer than those waiting over two weeks for initial interest.