The summer lull is officially over. Listings have rebounded, price reductions are spiking, and agreed sales are back on track. But while volume is rising again, fall-throughs have crept up too, making strong chain management more important than ever.
Listings: Bounce Back After Bank Holiday
36,800 homes came to market this week, up sharply from 29,100 last week. That puts the weekly figure back above the 2025 average of 36,200. Year-to-date, listings are 3.3% up on 2024 and 10.7% above the 2017–19 average (1.27m vs 1.23m and 1.15m).
Price Reductions: Biggest Weekly Total of the Year
25,700 reductions were recorded, a steep rise from 17,500 last week. Despite the surge, August’s reduction rate was only 11.1%, well below July’s 14.1% and the 2025 average of 13.1%. With stock rising again, expect this figure to climb if sellers don’t price accurately.
Sales Agreed: Recovery Underway
24,900 homes were sold subject to contract (SSTC), up from 21,300 the week before. That brings year-to-date sales agreed to 918,000, 6.3% up on 2024 and 13.7% ahead of the pre-Covid average (807k). A healthy start to the autumn selling season.
Sell-Through Rate: Lowest in Four Months
August’s sell-through rate dropped to 14.5%, down from 15.4% in July and below the pre-Covid norm of 15.5%. This suggests rising competition and buyer hesitation. The message for agents? Get pricing and presentation right from the start.
Fall-Throughs: Highest Level Since Spring
6,408 fall-throughs were recorded this week, up from 5,149 last week. That’s 25.8% of gross sales, compared to the 9-year average of 24.2%. It’s the sharpest increase in months and a clear signal that buyers and chains are under pressure.
Net Sales: Seasonal Bounce, but Below Par
Net sales climbed to 18,500, up from 16,200 last week, but still below the 2025 weekly average of 20,000. The year-to-date figure is now 700,000, 5.3% ahead of 2024 and 10.1% up on the 2017–19 benchmark (636k).
% Of Homes Selling: August Bucks the Trend
August’s preliminary data shows 54.9% of homes that left the market went all the way to completion. That’s up from 50.9% in July and the strongest monthly figure since April. It’s a promising sign, but we’ll watch closely as final August numbers settle.
Stock and Pipeline: Still Robust
As of 1st September, 763,000 homes were listed for sale, 6.7% more than the same time last year. Pipelines also remain strong at 510,000, up 3.4% on August. With more deals in progress, fall-through management becomes even more critical.
House Prices: Softening Slightly
The average £/sqft on sales agreed in August was £338.78, down from July but still 1.41% up on last year and 14.25% higher than 2020. A cooling trend, but no crash, sellers just need to keep expectations realistic.
Rental Market: Seasonal Pressure Building
Average August rents hit £1,828 pcm, up from £1,779 a year ago. The year-to-date average stands at £1,774. With student demand ramping up and little sign of new supply, rents are likely to stay high into autumn.
In Summary
The property market is back from its summer break. Listings, sales, and reductions are all rising, but so are fall-throughs and pricing pressure. With more homes entering the market and buyer confidence still mixed, strong advice and clear marketing are the difference between sold and stale.
Frank Marketing: Your Property Market Partner
At Frank Marketing, we understand the ins and outs of the property market. We provide expert guidance and marketing strategies to help you achieve your business goals. Contact us today to learn more about how we can make your brand stand out in the ever-changing property market.
