Property sales agreed in the UK fell 8% in May compared to the same period last year, according to new data from TwentyEA, though the decline was offset by a record number of new property listings coming to market.
The data shows that sold subject to contract (SSTC) volumes dropped to 109,922 in May, down from 119,607 in May 2025, representing an 8.1% year-on-year decline.
Record supply levels
Despite the fall in agreed sales, TwentyEA recorded 794,210 new instructions by the end of May for the year to date, the highest figure the company has tracked. This represents a 2.7% increase compared to the previous year, with March 2026 proving particularly strong as more than 175,000 properties came to market.
The decline in demand was evident across most of Britain’s regional markets, with Scotland being the only exception. The country remained unaffected by recent tax changes that have impacted other areas.
Inner London experienced the sharpest contraction in demand at 11.2%, followed by the North West at 6.7%. The figures suggest that broader changes affecting the property market continue to influence buyer behaviour across different regions.
Transaction forecast revised
Nick Huntley, Director of TwentyEA, commented: “This weakening of demand, seen particularly during May, points to a likely slowdown in transactions later in the year. However, across the bigger picture, the market remains very resilient. Demand is still nearly 15% higher than in 2023 and remains ahead of 2024 levels despite the ongoing affordability pressures, geopolitical uncertainty and higher mortgage costs.”
TwentyEA has revised its sales forecast for the year downward from 1.2 million transactions to 1.13 million. This represents a 6.8% fall compared with 2025, though it remains 2.6% higher than 2024 levels.
The company attributed some uncertainty in the British housing market to the Middle East conflict, alongside price falls across all bands. However, changes to Stamp Duty implemented in April 2025 were identified as a partial contributor to the price reductions.
Supply increases across price bands
Housing supply has expanded across every price band, with properties priced below £200,000 leading the increase at 3.9% year-on-year. In a positive development for market stability, fall-throughs decreased by 11.1% year-on-year to 115,025.
The data suggests a market in transition, with increased supply meeting reduced demand, which could have implications for pricing dynamics in the coming months. The divergence between different segments of the housing market remains pronounced, with regional variations and price band differences continuing to shape overall market performance.
