Rightmove is expecting a strong start to 2026 for the UK housing market and sees buyers and sellers resuming their moving plans in a ‘Boxing Day bounce’.
The UK property market needs it.
Average new seller asking prices fell by 1.8% this month to £358,138, marking a larger-than-usual December decline. This brings prices 0.6% lower at year-end compared to 2024.
The impact of the Budget and higher interest rates has been well-documented but these constraints are thought to start easing in the early stages of 2026.
Rightmove anticipates a stronger than usual Boxing Day Bounce, with early signs of recovery emerging as uncertainty fades. The number of top-end London sellers rising 24% week-on-week is evidence of this.
“Lower price growth supported buyer affordability and drove activity in the first half of the year, even after the April stamp duty deadline in England,” said Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove.
“In the second half of 2025, uncertainty caused by rumours of property tax changes in November’s Budget swirled, some from as early as August. This had an impact on pricing and activity, as sellers tried to entice nervous buyers. The market will soon benefit from the traditional boost in home-moving activity from Boxing Day. Rightmove’s Boxing Day Bounce is an annual event where we see many begin or resume their plans to move after the distraction of Christmas. With the turkey and trimmings barely off the table, each year we see people heading straight to Rightmove to browse the fresh listings for sale and imagine how different next Christmas could look.
“With market conditions supporting higher levels of activity and a hopefully more certain economic environment, we forecast a better year for price growth in 2026 with a strong rebound in activity to kick start the year.”
Rightmove sees house price growth of 2% in 2026.