Overview

• RICS reports a net -19% for new buyer inquiries and -16% for agreed sales in September, marking a third consecutive month of decline.
• The headline price balance improved to -15, with sharper falls in the South East and East Anglia while Scotland and Northern Ireland post modest gains; Zoopla notes first-time buyer prices up 2.4% year on year to £229,000.
• New seller instructions fell for a second month on a net -15% reading, pointing to a cooling flow of homes coming to market.
• Landlord listings dropped to their lowest since May 2020 as tenant demand held steady, leaving rents projected to rise about 3% over the next year.
• Business confidence hit a three-year low in ICAEW’s survey, and reports suggest the Nov. 26 budget may consider housing-related tax measures, reinforcing a wait-and-see mood.