Many people are on fixed-rate mortgages right now, and with the current rise in the base rate, it’s a good thing because it means your mortgage will not increase. But what if you want to move now and take advantage of the huge choice of inspiring homes available, and your mortgage deal is coming to an end?

Why another increase in the base rate?
The Bank of England raises the base interest rate to curb inflation. Inflation is the increase in the cost of goods and services, or the cost of living. The idea is that an increase in interest rates means more people will save instead of spending, which reduces inflation as there is less demand for goods and services. The rate of inflation is still way short of the Bank of England’s 2% target, but the bank expects inflation to fall to 5% by the end of this year.* There are a few reasons for this. Wholesale energy prices have fallen, and the price of imported goods is expected to fall as production issues are resolved and there is less demand for goods and services in the UK.

Here are a few things you can do now:
Interest rates may be a little on the high side now, so if you take out a mortgage now, there is nothing to stop you from changing your deal in a couple of years when rates are more favourable. In the meantime, here are a few options for you to consider:

• The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme: extended until the end of December 2023, this government-backed scheme has helped over 24,000 households get on the property ladder.** Its aim is to help people with a 5% deposit, and it was launched in April 2021. Aimed at first-time buyers, it’s similar to the government’s Help to Buy scheme, which ended earlier this year. So, if you want to take advantage of it, you need to be quick.
• 35-year mortgage deals: increasing the term of your mortgage could bring down the cost of your monthly mortgage payments. You may pay more interest because you are taking longer to pay for the home you want, but a property that may have been out of reach may suddenly be in your grasp.
• 100% mortgages: saving your deposit is often the biggest challenge to getting a footing on the property ladder. With the return of 100% mortgages, you no longer have this hurdle, and that will save you a lot of time, meaning you can start paying off your mortgage sooner rather than later.
• Interest only mortgages: another option to consider is an interest only mortgage, which could lead to much lower payments. If you have a lot of equity in your home, this could stand you in good stead when it comes to buying the home you want now.
• Green mortgages: many mortgage lenders now offer more competitive mortgage interest rates for greener, more energy-efficient homes. This, combined with lower energy bills, means that you could save significantly on your monthly outgoings. This means that the EPC rating of your home has never been more important.
• Consider porting your mortgage: porting allows you to move home with your existing mortgage. So, if you are happy with the terms of your current deal and it’s not about to end any time soon, then this could be a cost-saving solution. You may be able to borrow more, as many high-street lenders offer top-up mortgages. Speaking with your broker is important, as some lenders’ rules may differ.
• There is always a way: it could be that you are in the fortunate position of not needing to borrow or are on a fixed-rate interest deal. With the huge number of mortgage deals available and inspiring choices in properties, it’s worth talking to your agent if you are determined to make your move now.

 

Browse our website if you are looking for the right home with the best possible team to guide you in any way we can.

 

Bank of England*
GOV.UK**

 

In June, average new seller asking prices fell by £82 (-0.0%).* The summer property market always heats up and then takes a little sidestep as the holiday season kicks in. However, the average price of a property coming to the market jumped in May by +1.8%, which was higher than expected.* This is yet another sign the summer property market is performing well, and now is still a good time to choose the home you want. But how does this act as a breather and benefit the market?

Buyer demand
During the first two weeks in June, buyer demand was 6% higher than the same period in 2019’s pre-pandemic market.* So if you are thinking about putting your home on the market, now is a great time to do it. Prices are still strong, and your property will have increased rapidly and significantly in value over the past few years, so you will achieve a great price.

The property market takes care of itself
It’s not always healthy for asking prices to constantly grow month after month. The summer property market is hot enough, and it’s better for it to be stable rather than overheat. A little splash of modesty reassures the market and simply brings it back to where it should be if the market gets ahead of itself.

The property market takes care of you
The market has had a lot of challenges, yet it remains resilient. As it slows in pace, this creates a much more predictable environment. This means sudden changes are unlikely, meaning you will not get caught out when achieving a good selling and asking price when you are in between homes.

Better negotiating power
When the market pauses and it’s time to make an offer, you have a better chance of getting well-calculated offers accepted. Your agent will know the market inside and out and can advise you on an up-to-the-minute pricing strategy.

Does the price really matter?
Price and affordability are very important when considering which home to buy, particularly if you are taking out a mortgage. The value of property increases and decreases slightly in the short term but always rises significantly in the long term. So in many ways, it’s about affordability, not property price rises.

Can you put a price on happiness?
Finding the right home that suits your needs and desires is important. You will most likely spend many years of your life in your new home. Your property is more than bricks and mortar or an investment; it’s a living, breathing part of the family.

The law of averages
You are not a number, and neither is your home. Each person’s home is as unique as they are. It could be that you surpass all your property expectations. Whether this is from achieving a great asking price or simply finding a home that fulfils your dreams for a lot less than you imagined. As the market stands, it’s not about making quick money but rather buying an awesome property and making the most of it.

 

Browse our properties to view the homes you could be missing out on.

 

Rightmove*

 

The early summer months are traditionally a busy period for the UK property market. It’s a gorgeous time of year to view an abundance of beautiful properties. Many people are on the move. While it’s still a hive of activity with a huge choice of homes, the property market takes a little summer siesta as homeowners take a holiday. This gives you a chance to make your move. But don’t be fooled into thinking it will last for long, so if you want to take advantage of it, you need to be quick.

View your ideal home from the beach
Sometimes getting away from it all can help bring about clarity of mind, which is very useful when you are making big decisions. Perhaps the beach or poolside is the perfect place to peruse your potential properties. And a good time to discuss your big move with your partner while you are away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Enjoy quieter roads to your new home
With schools closed for the summer, the roads become quieter, and you can drive to viewings with less stress. This means you can relax a little more and take a bit more time to enjoy your viewings. With an increased sense of calm, talk to your agent, who will expertly guide you through your potential new home and anything that helps you with your home move.

Leave your agent to sell your home while you take a holiday
Hop on a plane, boat, or if you’re jumping in the car to drive to your holiday, whatever you are doing if you have made the decision to sell, leave it with your agent and enjoy your holiday. Perhaps by the time you return, your house will be sold.

Make an offer with less competition
With fewer people around, you may be able to open the door to making an offer below the asking price and getting it accepted before others have even viewed the property in question.

It’s the perfect moving season
With more family members to assist your big move and longer, warmer days to enjoy once you are settled in, the summer is perhaps the best time of year to move. And you may be able to save some money on home removal costs with more hands to help. If you hire a removal company, you may find it easier to find the right help.

Enjoy your new home
When you have finally moved into your new home, you may still have time to make the most of it during the warmer months of the year, when utility bills are a little lower. Any outdoor improvements, from weeding the garden to adding to your outdoor spaces and simple maintenance, can become a joy rather than a chore.

 

Take advantage of the summer holidays and find the home you love. Browse our properties.

 

Rightmove*

 

Preparing your home so that you can create priceless happy memories during the summer months ensures all members of the family are free to roam and play in a safe and fun environment. It also reduces stress levels when younger members of the family spend more time at home and can become a rowdy bunch when not at school. And if, like many people, you are considering moving to a better home, keeping it in order will help you achieve your moving goals. So, here are a few tips to help you make life easier.

Create some space
A change is as good as a rest, and moving and rearranging the furniture in your home to make it safer for your little ones to play will also showcase your indoor spaces for potential buyers. It may also give you some ideas on how to make better use of the rooms in your home while clearing out any no longer needed or tired furniture and other items.

Clean and de-clutter
It’s incredible and sometimes hard to believe how much space the little things in life take up. From bottles to utensils on kitchen worktops—things that you want to be out of reach of curious children—to old mail and the never-played-with-any-more toys. Cleaning is something you will be doing a lot of at this time of year, so why not go to town and clear out the closets and give everything a good clean? This will make it easier to maintain levels of hygiene, and cleaning up after the kids will be much easier. Your home will also look and feel more appealing during viewings.

Create a list of activities
By being organised, you can plan your day to fit around viewings. This will help prevent boredom for you and your family! It also gives you the means to plan your day and break different activities into manageable chunks, giving you all something to look forward to.

Sort your outdoor spaces
These are hugely important to buyers, and they need to be safe with no sharp edges for your buyer’s family as well as yours. Creating a perfectly amenable family dining area will give you a great place to enjoy happy alfresco memories. Outdoor spaces should naturally create a seamless flow from the indoors to the outdoors. If your home is very much a family home, perhaps a tree house could mean the new owners bought two homes for the price of one.

Make the most of your garden
There is little chance the children will want to help you these days! But if they do, what a bonus! That said, even if you are not a keen gardener, you could inspire younger members of the family with interesting flowers or fruit trees. Weeding and lawn cutting are a must to make the most of your garden’s appearance, but no prizes for guessing who will get that responsibility.

Will all this help you sell your home?
Absolutely; it’s all about achieving your asking price. And the numbers in property are big, so every little thing you do adds up to make a big difference.

 

Get in touch to see how we can help your family create a thousand wonderful memories by finding your perfect house.

 

 

It’s worth talking to your agent this August as the housing market is in good shape for many reasons. So, whether you are on holiday or looking for a holiday home to buy, downsizing or moving to something better, here are a few good reasons to do so.

Every home is different
The location of your home is important, as is the property type. First-time buyer-type homes, for example, have been selling very well. But with all that said, your individual home stands for a lot too. Every home has its own personality and unique features that make it desirable to a buyer. And the chances are, if your home is in any way attractive to certain buyers, they will not be alone.

Demand for your home is strong
Buyer demand is 3% higher than it was in 2019.* It’s completely unfair to compare these figures to the unsustainable levels during the pandemic. But every cloud has a silver lining, and much of that rapidly gained equity will still be in your home. This means that if there is a crash, you are still in a good place.

Your situation is unique
The number of homeowners who own their homes outright in the UK stands at 35%, while the number of homeowners with mortgages stands at 30%.** If you are one of the majority that does not have a mortgage, you may be less apprehensive about making a move now in the face of fluctuating interest rates.

The long-term view looks good
In the long term, house prices increase, and if you are concerned about the short-term fluctuations in price, they will be absorbed by the long-term increase in the value of your home.

How much time have you invested in your property?
Many homeowners in the UK who buy a home will live in it for well over ten years. So, if you bought your home before the pandemic, you have a double layer of accumulated equity to fall back on. Many people are in this situation, and this, combined with good demand, sures up the property market.

Home movers are on holiday
With so many people enjoying their holidays at this time of year, the market may lose a bit of momentum. So often, these changes in price can come about because of seasonality. Now is a good time to get out and have a good look at the home you may want to move into. There is a lot of choice, and with the market being less frantic, you may have more flexibility when it’s time to make an offer.

Conclusion
So, what does this price change mean? Not a lot, and with years of equity, you are in a good place even if there is a sudden drop in prices. But as things stand, prices are steadily declining only slightly, which means you will not get caught out in the middle of your move. After all, you want to live in the home you want; you are not playing the stock exchange.

Contact us today to see how far your money could go towards buying your property dream

 

Rightmove*
English Housing Survey**

 

 

 

 

Buying alone isn't the exception anymore
Single buyers represent around 39% of all first-time property purchases in the UK, according to Zoopla's analysis published in February 2026. That figure is large enough to make solo homeownership a mainstream route onto the property ladder rather than a niche one, and it reflects a shift in how first-time buying actually happens in practice. The challenge is that one income is, by definition, a different affordability calculation to two, and understanding where that calculation works in a single buyer's favour is the most useful starting point.

How single buyers search differently
Zoopla's analysis made a deliberate distinction between the type of property a single buyer is typically looking for and the type a couple purchasing together tends to target. While couples seeking their first home commonly look at three-bedroom properties, single buyers are more likely to focus on one or two-bedroom homes. The analysis was built on that basis, comparing average prices of smaller properties against the average incomes of single earners in cities across Britain.

The result is a city-level picture of where the affordability equation is most manageable for someone buying alone. The price-to-income ratio, which measures how many times a single earner's average salary the typical first home costs, is the key metric. The lower that ratio, the more of the purchase price a single buyer can reach on a standard mortgage.

Where the numbers are most accessible
The most affordable city in the analysis was Aberdeen in Scotland, with a typical first-home price of £114,700 against average single earner income of £33,100, giving a price-to-income ratio of 3.5. Sunderland in the North East followed at 3.7, where the average one or two-bedroom home was priced at £106,700 against average earnings of £28,600. Hull in Yorkshire and the Humber recorded a ratio of 4.1 on an average price of £115,300. Liverpool in the North West came in at 4.3 with an average first-home price of £137,100. Stoke-on-Trent and Swansea both recorded ratios of 4.5.

Moving south and east, the ratios increase consistently. Derby in the East Midlands recorded 5.4, Peterborough in the East of England 6.0, Plymouth in the South West 6.2, and Milton Keynes in the South East 6.3. In the London area specifically, Havering was identified as the most affordable borough, with an average one or two-bedroom home price of £305,200 against average single earnings of £41,600, producing a ratio of 7.3.

These figures are city-specific and should be read as such. They represent the most accessible location within each region, not an average condition across that region.

What this means in practice
The practical implication for a single first-time buyer is that location flexibility, where personal and professional circumstances allow it, is one of the most powerful affordability tools available. A buyer who can genuinely consider cities outside the most expensive areas of England, or who is open to smaller markets in Scotland, Wales, or northern England, is working within a meaningfully different set of numbers.

The analysis was published in February 2026, when mortgage rates were running at approximately 4%. The Iran conflict that began in late February pushed two-year fixed rates sharply higher. By July 2026 rates had eased slightly to around 5.54%, before rising again to approximately 5.6% in August. The Bank of England held its base rate at 3.75% at its August meeting, with the next MPC decision due on 17 September 2026. The directional picture of which cities offer the most accessible ratios for single buyers remains consistent with Zoopla's source data, but any monthly repayment figures derived from that analysis were calculated at the lower rates prevailing in early 2026. At current rates, the monthly cost of any given mortgage will be meaningfully higher than those earlier illustrations suggest.

For a single buyer approaching the process now, combining the price-to-income picture with an accurate understanding of current borrowing costs through a whole-of-market mortgage broker gives the most reliable view of what is genuinely achievable today.

Talk to our team about buying your first home

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Fixed-term tenancies are gone: Here's what actually replaced them
On 1 May 2026, the structure of private tenancies in England changed in a way that affects almost every landlord in the sector. Fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies were abolished and replaced, for both new and existing tenancies simultaneously, with assured periodic tenancies. Almost all assured shorthold tenancies that existed on 1 May 2026 converted to the new framework automatically on that date. The exception covers tenancies where a valid Section 21 or Section 8 notice had already been served before 1 May 2026 and possession proceedings had not concluded: those tenancies do not convert until proceedings finish. Category exemptions also apply, including tenancies with rent above £100,000 per year, company lets, and certain exempt student accommodation. For the vast majority of private landlords, the conversion was immediate and automatic.

What an assured periodic tenancy actually is
An assured periodic tenancy, commonly referred to as an APT or a rolling tenancy, has no fixed end date. It continues indefinitely, rolling from one rent period to the next, until one of the parties takes a step to end it. If rent is paid monthly, the tenancy period is monthly. The tenancy does not expire, does not require renewal, and does not carry an end date that either party needs to plan around.

According to the GOV.UK guide to the Renters' Rights Act, a tenant under an APT can stay in their home until they choose to leave by giving two months' written notice. For landlords, the corollary is that the tenancy cannot be ended simply because a fixed term has run its course. A landlord who wants to regain possession must use Section 8, citing one or more of the specific grounds set out in the legislation, and must follow the correct notice and evidence requirements for whichever ground or grounds apply.

What happened to existing fixed-term agreements
For tenancies signed before 1 May 2026, the conversion was automatic and required no action from either landlord or tenant in respect of the tenancy structure itself. The NRLA's guidance is clear that the old agreement and the new periodic tenancy are treated as one continuous tenancy. There is no need to re-serve compliance documents such as the Gas Safety Certificate, EICR, or EPC, and the tenancy deposit does not need to be re-registered. The fixed-term clause in the old agreement became unenforceable from 1 May 2026, as did any break clause the agreement contained.

However, landlords did have one mandatory follow-up obligation: providing every existing tenant with the government's official Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet by 31 May 2026. For tenancies that were purely oral, a written statement of terms was also required by that date. This was a compliance deadline, not an optional step.

A tenancy signed before 1 May 2026 but with a start date after it was also treated as an existing tenancy for the purposes of conversion, provided all parties had signed before that date.

What this means for how landlords manage tenancies
The practical effect of the shift to assured periodic tenancies is that several recurring administrative tasks disappear. Annual renewal conversations, decisions about whether to offer a new fixed term or allow a tenancy to roll monthly, and the paperwork cycle associated with those decisions are no longer part of the landlord's management workload. A tenancy continues without action being required from either party.

What replaces those tasks is a different set of ongoing obligations. Rent increases can only be made once per twelve months and must follow the Section 13 process, using Form 4A and giving at least two months' written notice. Possession, when it is genuinely needed, must be pursued through Section 8 with appropriate grounds and evidence. And for any new tenancy signed from 1 May 2026, written terms must be provided to tenants before the agreement is signed.

The NRLA's note that this represents the most significant change to the private rented sector in nearly four decades is accurate. The framework is different to what came before in almost every structural respect. Operating within it confidently begins with understanding precisely what the assured periodic tenancy is and what it requires.

Talk to our lettings team about managing your tenancies

What separates homes that sell from the ones that don't
Zoopla's July 2026 House Price Index, published on 30 July, contains a figure that every seller preparing to list should understand clearly. Almost 30% of homes listed since the second quarter of 2026 remain unsold without a price reduction. In a market where sales agreed are running 9% below the same period last year and buyer sentiment is being shaped by higher mortgage rates and summer uncertainty, that figure is the most direct available indicator of the gap between sellers who achieve a sale and those who do not.

The index also shows the other side of that statistic: well-priced homes continue to sell, even in a slower market. The two outcomes are not equally distributed across property types, locations, or pricing strategies. Understanding where the market is moving and where it is stalling is what allows a seller to plan accordingly.

Property type is doing most of the work
The July 2026 data shows meaningful divergence by property type, and that divergence is the clearest guide to where buyer demand is currently strongest. Semi-detached houses are recording annual price growth of 1.9% to an average of £282,100, the strongest performance of any property type. Terraced houses are up 1.7% to £242,000. Detached houses are growing at 1.0% to an average of £458,300.

Flats and maisonettes are the outlier. The average flat price has fallen 1.7% year-on-year to £192,200. That decline is concentrated in markets where flat stock is most abundant and where the leasehold concerns around service charges and building safety obligations continue to weigh on buyer confidence. For sellers of flats in these markets, understanding the specific dynamics of their local flat market matters more than the national average.

Location is creating divergent outcomes
The July HPI is explicit that national averages are masking significant local variation. The North East is the only region in England where sales agreed are currently running ahead of last year. Markets including Warrington, Hull, and Dundee are continuing to outperform. Meanwhile, markets including Bath, Oxford, and Harrow are seeing weaker demand and softer price growth.

The gap between stronger and weaker markets is directly relevant to pricing. A seller in a market where demand remains robust and stock is relatively tight is operating in different conditions to one where buyers have extensive choice and sellers are competing for attention. Applying the same pricing approach in both situations produces different outcomes, and the seller who understands which environment they are actually in is better placed to calibrate their opening price accordingly.

Pricing to local evidence is what closes the gap
Zoopla's July analysis identifies realistic pricing, grounded in local market conditions, as the consistent differentiator between homes that sell and homes that do not in the current environment. The almost 30% of Q2 listings that remain unsold without a reduction are not concentrated in one region or one property type. They represent sellers across the country who launched at a price that buyers in their specific market, with their specific alternatives, could not validate.

The implication for any seller approaching the market in autumn is straightforward. UK house price growth is at 1.3% annually, and the trajectory is expected to slow toward approximately 1% by the end of the year. The average UK home has gained £3,400 in value across 2026, a real but modest figure. Sellers who price from that measured reality, using comparable sold prices from their immediate area in the past two to three months, are the ones whose properties appear in completion data rather than in the unsold inventory that the index measures.

Talk to our team about pricing your home accurately

The property type quietly beating everything else this year
In a market where the headline numbers are modest, the detail by property type tells a more specific story. Across the UK, semi-detached houses are recording the strongest annual price growth of any residential property type in 2026. Zoopla's July 2026 House Price Index shows the average semi-detached home at £282,100, up 1.9% year-on-year. That outperformance is consistent and not particularly quiet once you look at the data, but it has received considerably less attention than the national average figures that dominate housing market coverage.

For buyers actively targeting a semi-detached home, the pattern has direct implications for how to approach the search and what to expect when making an offer.

What the full property type picture looks like
The divergence between property types in 2026 is pronounced. Semi-detached homes are at 1.9% annual growth. Terraced houses are at 1.7%, recording an average price of £242,000. Detached houses are growing more slowly at 1.0%, with an average of £458,300, reflecting the greater sensitivity of higher-priced properties to the current mortgage rate environment. Flats and maisonettes are the sole property type in negative territory, down 1.7% to an average of £192,200.

The pattern reflects something consistent in UK housing market data: property types that sit in the most accessible price range for the broadest pool of buyers tend to perform most robustly when affordability is under pressure. The semi-detached, averaging around £282,000, sits at a price level that a wide range of buyers with different deposit sizes and incomes can reach. Its combination of private garden, typically two to three bedrooms, and often good proximity to schools and transport makes it the default target for family buyers, first movers up from flats, and buyers relocating from more expensive markets. That breadth of demand is what sustains its relative outperformance.

What the house prices page shows about the current landscape
Zoopla's sold house price data for 2026 shows average prices across cities ranging from below £120,000 in the most affordable northern markets to above £460,000 in Cambridge. Within that range, the semi-detached has maintained its growth position across very different local conditions. In affordable markets, semi-detached prices are growing faster because demand from first and second-step buyers is sustained. In more expensive markets, the semi-detached is holding up better than the detached sector because buyers are willing to trade space for accessibility.

Zoopla's house prices page also describes the semi-detached as the most popular type of home in the UK, which reinforces both its demand characteristics and the competitive nature of the market for well-priced examples.

What this means if you are buying a semi-detached
The 1.9% annual growth figure is an average, and within it there is significant variation by location and by the specific characteristics of individual properties. Well-presented, accurately priced semi-detached homes in areas with strong buyer demand continue to attract competitive interest and sell within reasonable timeframes even in the current slower market overall.

For buyers targeting this property type, the practical implications are worth understanding clearly. Semi-detached homes that are genuinely well located and well priced are not sitting unsold for extended periods. Preparation matters: having a mortgage in principle in place, a clear understanding of your maximum budget at current rates, and a solicitor ready to act puts you in a position to move decisively when the right property appears. In a market where almost 30% of listings since spring remain unsold, the well-priced semi-detached is the exception to that pattern, not the rule.

Talk to our team about finding your next home