UK property buyer demand increased by 5% in the first week of September as the market recovered from the summer lull, according to data from Rightmove.
The post-summer increase in buyer activity exceeded the five-year average for this period, which typically stands at 0.4%, marking the strongest back-to-school bounce in recent years.
The rise in demand means the year-on-year gap has narrowed to 9% below last year’s levels, compared to 14% in earlier weeks of 2026.
Regional variations
The uptick in buyer activity was recorded across all regions of Great Britain. London and the South West saw the largest increases, with demand rising 9% and 8% respectively week-on-week.
The West Midlands and North East both recorded increases of approximately 7%, whilst the East Midlands and South East each registered a 6% rise in buyer enquiries.
Colleen Babcock, Head of Partner Marketing at Rightmove, said: “While buyer demand remains below last year’s level, this year’s back-to-school bounce is a welcome sign after a summer that brought the usual holiday distractions alongside several spells of exceptionally hot weather.”
She added: “It’s encouraging to see buyers getting on with their moving plans and returning to the market as we head into the autumn season. However, it is still early in the month, we will be keeping an eye on this over the coming weeks.”
Market outlook
Hollie Whittaker, Founder of Yorkshire-based agency Block & Brick, confirmed the trend at a local level: “We’re definitely seeing signs of increased buyer activity as people settle back into their usual routines after the summer holidays. Viewing requests have started to pick up, and we’re seeing more buyers actively continuing their search for their next home now the kids are back at school.”
The data comes as the broader property sector shows mixed signals, with property franchise groups reporting revenue growth earlier this year, whilst regulatory changes such as England’s landlord register launching in December 2026 continue to reshape the market landscape.
The September uptick in buyer demand will be closely monitored in the coming weeks to determine whether the increase represents sustained momentum or a temporary seasonal adjustment following the summer period.
