The housing market has started 2026 with the highest number of homes for sale in more than eight years, with the average agent having 32 homes for sale.
However, not all of this is new supply. Around one-third of these properties were previously listed in 2025 and have since returned to the market after uncertainty in the final quarter of last year slowed activity.
The rise in supply is most evident in southern England, with London listings up 16% year on year and the South East up 9%, as Budget uncertainty delayed sales into 2026.
With greater choice for buyers and solid market fundamentals, 12-month sales expectations in the latest RICS survey are at their highest since late 2024.Visualisation: Dataloft by PriceHubble, Source: Zoopla, first 2 weeks of January, RICS.