With Rightmove’s latest House Price Index (HPI) revealing that the average price of a property coming to market has risen by 1.2% to £378,304 in May 2026, an increase of £4,333, property experts from across the sector have shared their views on what this means as we progress through the months.
Hamza Behzad, Business Development Director at Finova :
“Spring is traditionally a time of great activity for the housing market, and 2026 has been no different. In the face of tightening affordability, sticky inflation, and geopolitical angst, buyers are still upbeat.
With new data from Savills reporting that almost 700 buy-to-let properties were put on sale per day up to March – courtesy of the Renters’ Rights Act – we may see a fresh injection of housing stock. This could drive down prices, creating new footholds for buyers who would otherwise struggle to step onto the housing ladder.
The market is still moving, but affordability is still the biggest topic in town. Buyers are pushing harder on price, while sellers may find themselves entering a market that is more competitive and much costlier than they imagined.
No less than the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has said that the conflict in the Middle East will soften buyer demand. With confidence still sensitive to interest rate expectations, the market may remain cautious and highly price-conscious in the months ahead.”
Jeremy Leaf, north London estate agent and a former RICS residential chairman, says: “Uncertainty over indeterminate interest rates and inflation rises is prompting more protracted decision making and transactions, exacerbated by the significant amount of available property, especially flats.
However, in our offices, very few sales are falling through, although buyers are negotiating and re-negotiating hard to ensure, as far as possible, that mortgage payments will be affordable today as well as tomorrow.
Although the Rightmove survey always provides an interesting snapshot of market confidence, sellers’ asking prices are part of marketing so determine if genuine buyers are attracted in such price-sensitive times.”
Adam French, Head of Consumer Finance at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said:
“Higher mortgage rates are exposing big regional affordability imbalances. Based on current Moneyfacts average mortgage rates and the latest Rightmove house price data, for the same amount of borrowing a typical new mortgage in London is likely to cost around £348 more per month than before the Iran conflict spike in rates, compared to an increase of roughly £104 per month in the North East.
Borrowers may soften the impact by securing a new mortgage deal up to six months before they need it to start, helping them lock in today’s rates while keeping the option to switch if cheaper deals appear. Speaking to a broker or lender about flexible options, such as extending the mortgage term to lower monthly payments, may also help in the short term but it will take longer to pay off and increase the total interest paid over time. In an uncertain market, acting early and staying flexible can help manage borrowing costs.”
Ultimately, the growing gap between the north and south underscores how higher rates will put greater affordability pressure on borrowers in already stretched and more expensive housing markets, while relatively lower house prices in other regions can help absorb some of that shock – at least for now.”
