After a subdued end to 2025, the first quarter of 2026 has quietly rebuilt confidence in the housing market. March may be the strategic launch point sellers have been waiting for.

For tenants, April is a useful point to pause and plan. With rents still rising across the UK and the first phase of rental reform approaching in England, this is a good time to review your budget, renewal options and next move.

More households are reassessing space in early 2026. If your home feels tighter than it once did, this spring may offer the right conditions to move up.

The way people aged 55 to 64 live today tells a much bigger story than you might expect. Beneath the headline figures lies a quiet shift in homeownership, mortgages and renting that has been decades in the making. To see what’s really changed, and why it matters, read on.