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.

In 2025, £344bn was spent on property across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Follow the money and the market’s geography becomes clear. Some regions dominate, others quietly punch above their weight. It’s a powerful reminder that the UK property market isn’t one story, but many regional economies moving at different speeds.

At first glance, UK house prices rising tens of thousands of per cent since 1900 look absurd. But annualised over 126 years, growth averages around 4.5 to 5 per cent a year. It is not sudden surges but steady compounding that drives values higher, showing property rewards time in the market more than attempts to time it.

The Renters’ Rights Act introduces the biggest changes in private renting in decades. This guide breaks down the facts landlords need now, including key dates and compliance steps.