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More urgently needs to be done to speed up property transactions, with almost a third of sales taking more than 17 weeks to reach exchange, according to Propertymark.
The latest data from the organisation shows a sales market that is showing some resilience but remains constrained by ongoing challenges.
“Buyer registrations improved, and sales volumes are higher than a year ago, pointing to underlying demand,” said Nathan Emerson, CEO Propertymark. “However, transaction times remain unacceptably long, with over 30% of sales taking more than 17 weeks to reach exchange, and supply continues to soften. Falling stock levels and fewer market appraisals are limiting choice and contributing to a slower, more cautious market environment.”
Propertymark’s latest Housing Insight Report reveals that the average number of viewings per available property in December 2025 fell to 1.3, compared with the previous month.
On average, there were around 6.4 homes per member branch placed for sale across December 2025.
Emerson continued: “Although the base rate has eased and mortgage lending remains broadly stable, inflationary pressures and wider economic uncertainty are still impacting affordability and confidence. As we move into 2026, clearer economic signals and policy stability will be essential to support both buyer commitment and smoother transaction flows.”
As far as the lettings sector is concerned, the average number of registrations per member branch drops slightly to an average of 63 in December 2025.
The average number of properties available for rent grew slightly to 11.29 per member branch in December 2025.
Emerson added: “In the lettings sector, demand continues to significantly outpace supply, despite a modest uplift in available stock and fully managed instructions. Void periods remain relatively short, underlining how competitive the rental market still is, while rents continue to rise year on year, albeit at a slowing pace.
“Affordability pressures are becoming more visible, with rental arrears increasing and many landlords expressing concern around forthcoming legislative changes. Greater clarity around rental reform is urgently needed to reassure landlords and prevent further contraction in supply, which would only intensify pressures for tenants.”
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