Property sales agreed have now fallen year on year for four consecutive months, according to TwentyCi, with August volumes down 6% compared with the same month in 2025. Other reports point to subdued buyer confidence, softer house prices and increasing lender rates. Berkeley Group has also called for property-tax reform ahead of the October Budget, including a proposed 1% stamp duty cap for first-time buyers.
For advisers, a slower purchase market may mean more clients need help reassessing affordability, timing and realistic property choices, while remortgage retention remains crucial. Market-monitoring tools and AI-assisted segmentation can help firms distinguish purchasers, refinancers, landlords and later-life borrowers with different needs. However, forecasts on rates, prices or Budget policy should be presented as uncertain scenarios—not automated conclusions—and kept separate from personalised regulated advice.