The housing market demonstrated notable strength in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from TwentyCi.
According to TwentyCi’s latest ‘Property & Homemover Report’, sales agreed in Q1 rose by 9.3% compared to the first quarter of 2024, with a total of 326,000 transactions reported.
This surge was evident in every UK region except Northern Ireland, suggesting a widespread uptick in buyer confidence and activity.
In parallel, the supply of new instructions increased by 3.7% over Q1 2024 levels, bringing the average to approximately 425,000 new listings per quarter.
This figure suggests the market is approaching the steadier volumes typically seen in more stable, “normal” market conditions, after the turbulence of recent years.
Exchanges, one of the most critical indicators of market completion, experienced a substantial increase of over 24% compared to last year.
A key driver behind this spike appears to be the recent adjustment to the Stamp Duty threshold, which took effect on 1st April.
The policy change has likely accelerated buyer decisions and facilitated a faster flow of transactions through to completion.
Despite the overall positive outlook, regional disparities persisted. The South East emerged as the most challenging area in which to sell a property, overtaking Inner London, which has historically held that position.
Another significant trend observed in the market data is the increasing dominance of older movers.
In 2025, individuals in later life stages represented 42% of all home movers, a noticeable rise from 37% in the previous year.
This demographic trend may reflect broader societal changes, such as downsizing, retirement planning, or lifestyle adjustments post-pandemic.
Colin Bradshaw, CEO at TwentyCi, said: “In Q1 2025, the UK property market saw the highest number of new listings in seven years, with strong demand driving a 9.3% increase in sales compared to Q1 2024.
“Detached houses were particularly sought after, while the average time to achieve a sale and to exchange both increased. Rental stock availability dropped by 16% year-on-year.
“In general, there are reasons for optimism but the key questions ahead are what will be the impact of global trade on the UK economy and moreover the impact on employment futures and how mortgage lenders react in terms of lending policy.
“Frankly, I have no idea, but with interest rates forecast to fall I suspect cautious optimism will serve us well.”
