Nick Leeming, Chairman of Jackson-Stops, comments in response to the ONS Private Rents and House Price data published today
- Average UK house prices increased by 1.3%, to £268,000, in the 12 months to January 2026 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate is down from 1.9%, in the 12 months to December 2025
- Average UK monthly private rents increased by 3.5%, to £1,374, in the 12 months to February 2026 (provisional estimate); this annual growth rate is unchanged from the 12 months to January 2026
"The market has started the year cautiously, with January’s figures showing modest growth and underlying resilience, amid a broader slow down late last year.
"From what we are seeing on the ground, buyers are willing to proceed where value stacks up, the home is well-presented, and the price is right – realistic pricing is king in today’s market.
"Looking ahead, with the situation in the Middle East remaining volatile, and interest rate expectations shifting, we’re likely to see some buyers move to get transactions agreed sooner rather than later. As rates are expected to drift upwards through the year, buyers are acting with greater certainty that current rates are more favourable than they may be in the months ahead, creating a short-term uplift in demand even as overall activity remains cautious. However, we remain in a fast-moving situation and expectations can change by the day.
"As a result, while the spring market should see healthy levels of activity, any upward movement in values is likely to be modest and increasingly location specific."
