‘Price increase hints at usual Autumn bounce, but sellers face crowded market’ - Rightmove House Price Index
Asking prices have edged up for the first time in months as activity picks up after the summer lull, though an unusually crowded market means sellers still need to tempt buyers on price, according to Rightmove’s latest house price index.
The average asking price of newly-listed properties for sale rises by 0.7% (+£2,441) this month to £367,440. This is the first increase to property asking prices since May.
September’s price increase is also larger than the ten-year September average of 0.5%, which is an early sign of the usual increase in activity we see in Autumn, and after a particularly quiet summer in 2026. September is usually a busier period, as potential movers return from holidays and refocus on buying and selling plans for the rest of the year.
There is, however, lots of ground to make up after this summer’s run of monthly price drops. Prices remain 0.8% lower than at this time last year, and 2.3% below where they were at the start of summer.
It’s a challenging market for sellers, with the number of homes available on the market for sale at a 12-year high for the time of year and affordability still stretched for buyers. Demand from buyers is still 9% lower than this time last year, as many buyers consider their finances carefully.
Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove:
“September’s above-average price rise is a welcome sign of confidence after a particularly subdued summer, but it should be viewed as a modest recovery rather than a major turning point. Property prices have largely underperformed against the long-term average this year, but September is an exception.
“While buyers and sellers are returning to the market after the summer holidays to potentially fuel an Autumn bounce, sellers face stiff competition from a 12-year high number of other homes for sale. With a large crowd of sellers chasing a smaller number of buyers, realism on pricing or a high-quality finish are absolutely key to attracting a buyer and making a sale.
“Whilst almost two-thirds of homes are still successfully finding a buyer, the chances of selling vary significantly depending on where you live. Over 90% of homes that come to market for sale are selling in Scotland versus less than half in London, meaning those who want to sell will have to set their pricing according to local market conditions.”