Taylor Wimpey has reported weaker trading in the second half of 2025 in a trading statement littered with the words ‘uncertainty’ and ‘challenging’.
Shares in the UK’s third-largest housebuilder fell by over 3% on Wednesday, recording a net private sales rate of 0.63 homes per outlet per week between 30 June and 9 November.
This is a step down from 0.71 in the same period last year. The cancellation rate held steady at 17%.
For the full year to date, the sales rate stood at 0.72, marginally down from 0.73 in 2024. The order book has softened to 7,253 homes valued at approximately £2.116 billion, compared with 7,771 homes worth £2.214 billion a year earlier. The falling order book will be a concern for investors.
“Taylor Wimpey’s latest update shows that the autumn selling season has cooled. Sales have dipped as affordability pressures bite once more and whispers of property tax hikes in the November Budget spook potential buyers,” said Mark Crouch, market analyst for eToro.
Underlying house prices remain broadly flat. Build cost inflation is expected to stay in the low single digits for 2025.
Taylor Wimpey said it continues to expect full-year UK completions and group operating profit to meet previous guidance. The firm aims to close the year operating from 210-215 outlets.
“Taylor Wimpey’s sales momentum slowed in the third quarter, as uncertainty ahead of Rachel Reeves’ Budget later this month has been weighing on the housebuilding market,” said Aarin Chiekrie, equity analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown.
“Unsurprisingly, buyers are holding off from signing on the dotted line in case the Chancellor’s announcement brings beneficial tax changes to property buying. With Christmas hot on the heels of this delayed Budget, disincentivising people to move during the festive period, there’s unlikely to be much of a pick-up in sales activity until the new year.”