The number of homes bought and sold in the United Kingdom in March crashed 41% compared to the year before, according to figures from the country’s tax and customs authority.
HMRC property transaction data showed that 104,070 homes were sold in Britain in March 2026, compared to 176,390 12 months earlier. Although the property market has suffered from economic uncertainty and higher mortgage rates, home sales in March 2025 were unusually high, as the last month that buyers could benefit from a temporary stamp duty tax discount.
With the number of homes on the market sitting at an 11-year high at the start of the spring, there is cautious optimism that a buyer’s market will drive recovery. “On the ground, we saw some softening in initial viewing levels in March as people took stock of the situation in the Middle East and what impact this might have on borrowing costs,” said Amy Reynolds of estate agent Antony Roberts. “However, since then, things have picked up and the past week has been very busy, with a strong level of viewings and serious offers coming through,” she added.
IAM Member Impact: IAM members on both sides of the Atlantic are suffering through a downturn in the domestic moving market, with the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, and the Federal Reserve all announcing no changes to current interest rates.
Source: This is Money