The auction market saw activity fall in May 2025, with lots offered down by 2.7% and sales dropping by 7.7%, according to Essential Information Group (EiG) data.
The national success rate was 68.7%, with most of the dip coming from the residential sector.
Despite this, the total raised only fell by 1.1% to £526.4m, showing that stock priced correctly is still selling.
Buyers have become more selective and are not bidding where prices do not match expectations, according to EiG data.
Looking at the March to May 2025 quarter, supply was up in many regions but sale rates came under pressure.
The East Midlands, South-West and Wales saw more lots entered and sold, but London and Yorkshire saw a gap between what was on offer and what buyers wanted.
In May 2025, 3,757 lots were offered, with 2,582 sold.
Stuart Collar-Brown, president of NAVA Propertymark, said: “It’s positive to see the overall number of lots offered remaining resilient when looking at month on month numbers for both the residential and commercial sector.
“Considering we have witnessed sizeable economic turbulence across the year so far, with elevated base rates and stamp duty threshold changes in April this year, it is little shock this has brought a negative effect on the number of lots sold at auction in May 2025.
“However, if we look at the wider picture and trend on a year-on-year basis for lots sold, the figures demonstrate incredible growth and confidence in the profession for residential and commercial properties delivering 7.2%. and 7.5% growth respectively.”
Collar-Brown added: “As sales for both residential and commercial properties continue to adapt to current economic factors, any monthly dip will hopefully prove only temporary, and momentum will again likely gather pace across the traditionally busy summer period.”
