The Market

Average country house prices have fallen -5.4% in the last year, reports Knight Frank - but the agency has seen a +9% increase in the number of offers accepted.

Government says it is 'serious about cutting red tape to get Britain building again,' unveiling new call-in powers & a 'helping hand' for developments mired in legal reviews.

Activity levels have recovered across England & Wales, but there's little optimism that prices will stage much of a recovery over the rest of 2025.

Neighbourhood-level data points to further steep declines across the traditional PCL heartlands in the past three months.

An A-list occupant can generate a huge buzz for a new instruction, reports Beauchamp Estates, but the effect on the property's value is less obvious.

Surging demand at the very top end keeps the emirate on track for another record-breaking year, reports Knight Frank.

'SDLT certainly should not be increased,' declares an in-depth new report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and 'a well-designed tax system would have no place for SDLT at all.'

Impact of the forthcoming Renters' Rights Bill 'has been limited' so far, but Savills warns reforms 'for some will feel more radical & sooner than expected.'

'Landlord purchases haven’t collapsed in the face of higher taxes and tighter regulation,' says estate agency - 'but they have shifted.'

Your essential five-minute briefing on the latest market movements & commentary, featuring data and analysis from Knight Frank, Savills, Hamptons, Halifax, RICS, UK Sotheby's International Realty, Benham…

LCP reports the highest rental growth rates of the year so fear, despite the market remaining quieter than pre-pandemic norms.

Late November & December are notoriously tricky trading months - but this year could be different if Rachel Reeves decides to ditch the dreaded SDLT, writes the Glentree boss.