The UK property market has certainly had its challenges during 2026. Mortgage rates, the cost of living, global uncertainty and changes to Stamp Duty have all influenced buyer confidence. But the latest figures suggest that, despite the headlines, the desire to move home remains surprisingly resilient.
The latest TwentyCi Property & Homemover Report for Q2 2026 paints a mixed but perhaps more encouraging picture than you might expect.
More homes are coming onto the market
The supply of newly listed properties is 2.7% higher year-to-date than in 2025, continuing a trend which has seen property supply reach its highest levels for a decade.
Buyer demand has been more subdued, with sales agreed down 5% year-to-date. However, comparisons with 2025 need some context, as last year’s figures were boosted by buyers rushing to complete ahead of Stamp Duty changes.
Look further back and the picture becomes considerably brighter: transaction volumes so far in 2026 remain 15.7% above 2023 and 12.8% above 2024 levels.
And when we look specifically at Q2, there are some particularly interesting signs.
Although sales agreed were down 5.8% compared with Q2 2025, property exchanges increased by 2.8% and fall-throughs fell by 8.7%.
In other words, there may be fewer people entering the market, but those who do agree a sale appear increasingly committed to getting their move over the line.
Who is moving is changing too
Another interesting trend is the changing profile of the UK’s homemovers.
Exchanges amongst homeowners aged 66 and over increased by 40.6% compared with Q2 2025. Meanwhile, the 46–65 age group recorded growth of 14.6% and now accounts for 40.3% of owner-occupied exchanges.
Household income tells a similar story.
Exchange activity declined amongst households earning below £70,000 but increased at higher income levels. Those earning £100,000–£149,999 saw a 12.5% increase, while exchanges amongst households earning more than £150,000 rose by 31.3%.
There are several possible reasons. Older homeowners are more likely to have significant equity in their property and may therefore be less exposed to mortgage affordability pressures. Retirement, downsizing and changing family circumstances can also provide a reason to move regardless of wider economic conditions.
For the removals industry, that’s significant. Higher-value and larger-property moves can involve more belongings, more complex removals and customers who place greater value on using a professional removal company to manage the process.
There is a knock-on effect elsewhere too. Moving home has always generated spending beyond the property purchase itself, from furniture and decorating to storage and home improvements. Research highlighted by Furniture News suggests that today’s older, financially resilient movers could therefore provide a welcome boost for the wider homeware and interiors market too.
What about house prices and mortgages?
The outlook remains difficult to predict.
Recent house-price indicators have been relatively subdued, while mortgage rates have eased from some of the highs seen earlier in the year. However, borrowing costs remain considerably higher than many homeowners became accustomed to during the years of ultra-low interest rates.
Stamp Duty also remains part of the equation. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has confirmed there will be no changes to Stamp Duty at the autumn Budget. While that removes some of the uncertainty surrounding possible reforms, the cost remains significant for existing homeowners looking to move, particularly when combined with estate agency, legal and other moving costs.
For some households, that may mean staying put for longer. For others, however, the figures suggest that life simply carries on, families grow, children leave home, jobs change, people retire and priorities shift.
And people move.
The busiest moving day of the year?
That becomes particularly apparent as we approach the end of the summer.
According to analysis reported by Mortgage Strategy, Friday 28 August is expected to be the busiest moving day of 2026, with almost 23,000 households predicted to move home in a single day.
It’s a useful reminder that even in a more challenging property market, thousands of people are still picking up the keys to their next home every week.
For removal companies such as Squab Removals, the underlying message from the latest figures is therefore encouraging.
The market isn’t booming, and there are undoubtedly pressures on affordability and buyer confidence. But properties are still coming to market, exchanges are holding up, fewer agreed sales are falling through and committed homeowners are continuing to move.
Perhaps the best description of the market as we head towards autumn 2026 isn’t boomingor struggling.
It’s resilient.
And wherever people are moving, whether that’s upsizing, downsizing, relocating or simply starting the next chapter, we’ll be ready to help make moving day that little bit easier.
Get a quote by contacting us at https://squabremovals.co.uk/contact-us/
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