Rightmove Data Shows UK House Prices Stall in February After Strong Year Start
The UK housing market saw asking prices hold steady in February, according to the latest monthly index from Rightmove.
After a record-breaking rise in January, the average asking price for newly listed properties remained virtually unchanged at around £368,000, dipping by just £12 compared with the previous month.
Despite the flat performance, the first two months of 2026 mark the strongest start to the year for house prices since 2020. This reflects the impact of a significant rebound in buyer and seller activity following the uncertainty that surrounded the government’s Autumn Budget.
Rightmove’s property experts point to strong market fundamentals that supported the January increase, followed by more cautious pricing from sellers in February as competition among the growing number of properties for sale kept upward pressure on prices in check.
The standstill in February is also attributed to broader market dynamics, with more homes available than typical for this time of year, giving buyers greater choice and bargaining power, and making 2026 potentially a favourable year for those looking to purchase.
Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove said, “With market conditions supporting higher levels of activity, and a hopefully more certain economic environment, we forecast a better year for price growth in 2026 with a strong rebound in activity to kick start the year.”
“However, with buyer choice remaining high, sellers will still need to come to the market at tempting prices to attract attention and do all that they can to ensure that their property is presented as well as possible.”
“A more stable 2026 would be good for buyer confidence, which in turn would further boost activity levels, leading to a modest price increase.”
Louise Apollonio, sales and distribution director for Retail Mortgages at Shawbrook, said that following January’s “robust activity”, buyers were now “taking advantage of the number of properties available on the market to explore their options”.
“Though subdued, continued activity could be a positive sign ahead of the Spring Statement, signifying growing consumer confidence, which is certainly what buyers and sellers need,” she said.
Download the full Rightmove Report here