10.06.202623:20:51UTC+00UK House Price Balance at 30-Month Low

The RICS UK Residential Market Survey indicated that the house price balance held at -35% in May 2026, unchanged from April, beating market expectations of -31% and representing the weakest reading since November 2023. New buyer enquiries also remained steady at -34%, marking the first month since January in which demand did not deteriorate further. The agreed sales balance was likewise unchanged at -37%, suggesting that the slowdown in transactions is no longer intensifying. Regionally, the South East and East Anglia continued to face stronger downward pressure on prices, while Northern Ireland remained a clear outperformer, with prices still rising robustly. Looking ahead, the near-term house price expectations index dropped to a net balance of -45% in May at the UK-wide level, down sharply from -39%, signalling additional softness in the market over the coming months.