Austins Estate Agents

01/06/2026

🏡 **May 2026 Property Market Update**

The spring market remains busy, with more homes available, steady buyer demand, and continued activity across sales and lettings.

📈 This month:
✔ Asking prices rose by 1.2%
✔ Mortgage approvals continue to increase
✔ Buyers have more choice than in recent years
✔ Rental demand remains strong, although rent growth is slowing

Whether you're buying, selling, letting, or renting, preparation is still the key to making the most of current market conditions.

Read more here: https://austinsestateagents.co.uk/journal/may-2026-uk-property-market-update/

Explore the UK property market in May 2026, including house price trends, buyer demand, rental market updates, and the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act in Wolverhampton and across the UK.

12/05/2026

🏡 Big changes are coming to rent reviews from 1st May

Under the new Renters’ Rights rules, rent increases will need to rely much more heavily on real market evidence.

That means:
✔ Achieved rents matter more than advertised rents
✔ Evidence-based rent reviews become more important
✔ Landlords need to stay aligned with local market conditions

With over 5.5 million households in the private rented sector, these changes will affect a large part of the market.

Research also shows there can be a big difference between asking rents and the rents actually achieved — and that gap may grow further under the new rules.

👉 The rental market is becoming more evidence-led than ever before.

Source: Dataloft by PriceHubble, ONS, English Housing Survey

04/05/2026

🌼 UK Property Market Update – April 2026

Spring is in full swing, and the property market is picking up across sales and lettings — but with a more balanced feel than in recent years.

👉 More homes on the market
👉 Steady (not surging) prices
👉 Buyers taking a more considered approach

📊 What’s happening now:
• Asking prices up 0.8% this spring
• Housing supply at an 11-year high
• Mortgage approvals rising to 62,600
• Rental growth easing to 3.5% annually

⚖️ What it means for you:

✔ Buyers – More choice and less pressure to rush
✔ Sellers – More competition, so pricing is key
✔ Landlords – Strong demand, but tenants are more price-sensitive
✔ Tenants – Stay prepared as competition remains high

📢 Important: The Renters’ Rights Act comes into effect from 1 May 2026, bringing major changes for landlords and tenants. Now is the time to prepare.

04/05/2026

Energy costs remain one of the biggest pressures on households — and your property’s efficiency makes a big difference.

Here’s what the data shows:
⚡ New build homes cost around £420 less per year to run than older EPC D homes
📉 Compared to the least efficient homes (EPC F or G), the gap rises to £618 a year (39%)
🏠 Nearly all new builds are rated EPC A or B
❗ Fewer than 5% of older homes reach that level

👉 The good news? There are simple ways to improve efficiency:
• Loft insulation – save up to £390/year
• Cavity wall insulation – save up to £420/year

Small upgrades can make a big difference — both to your bills and your home’s value.

Source: Dataloft by PriceHubble, HBF Watt A Save 2026

01/05/2026

🏡 Renters’ Rights Act: What’s changing from May?

From May, new rules will ban offers above the advertised rent — meaning tenants will no longer be able to bid higher to secure a property.

Over the past five years, around 1 in 10 tenancies were agreed above asking, showing just how competitive the rental market has been.

📍 In some cities, it’s even more common:
• London – up to 2 in 10 lets above asking (peaking at 4 in 10)
• Manchester – up to 3 in 10 at peak
• Birmingham – closer to the UK average

👉 So what happens next?

Landlords may respond by setting higher initial asking rents, rather than relying on bidding.

💡 The key takeaway:
This change removes the bidding process — but not the underlying demand driving rental prices.

Source: Dataloft by PriceHubble

01/04/2026

🏡🌸 Spring Market Update: A More Balanced 2026

The UK property market is moving into its usual spring pattern, with more listings, viewings, and activity across both sales and lettings.

But this year feels different 👇
Instead of urgency, we’re seeing a more balanced and steady market.

📊 Key highlights:
• Asking prices rose 0.8% in March to £371,042
• More homes for sale — at an 11-year high
• House prices grew 1.6% annually (Nationwide)
• Mortgage approvals slightly lower — showing buyers are being more cautious

👉 What this means:
✔ Buyers have more choice and time to decide
✔ Sellers face more competition — pricing is key
✔ Landlords still see strong demand, but rent growth is easing
✔ Tenants need to stay organised in a busy market

💡 Top tip:
Preparation is everything — whether you're buying, selling, renting or letting.

Explore the Wolverhampton property market in March 2026, including house prices, buyer demand, rental trends, and what it means for buyers, sellers, and landlords.

31/03/2026

🏡 The UK rental market is changing — and landlords are feeling it

The Private Rented Sector (PRS) is shrinking. While the total value of UK housing rose by 3.8% last year, the PRS fell by 5.1% — marking three consecutive years of decline and a £79bn reduction since 2022.

But here’s the interesting part 👇
Not all landlord sales mean homes leave the rental market:

✔ Over 25% are sold with tenants in place
✔ Around 30% are bought by other landlords

However, a significant number are shifting to homeownership:
🏠 34% bought by first-time buyers
🏠 29% by other residential buyers

As the market evolves and regulations increase, navigating changes like the Renters’ Rights Act is becoming more complex.

👉 Professional support is more important than ever for landlords making decisions in today’s market.

Source: PriceHubble, Savills, Pegasus Insight

11/03/2026

🏡 Landlord Checklist for the Renters’ Rights Act (May 2026)

Make sure you’re ready before the rules change:

✔ Update tenancy agreements and documents
✔ Prepare a tenant move-in information pack
✔ Plan annual rent review dates
✔ Keep inspection and repair records
✔ Check EPC and compliance documents

A little preparation now can save a lot of stress later.

11/03/2026

🏡 Landlords: Big changes are coming in May 2026.

The Renters’ Rights Act will introduce new rules for tenancies in England — including periodic tenancies as standard, stricter rent increase processes, and clearer paperwork requirements.

If you’re a landlord in Wolverhampton, now is the time to review your tenancy agreements, rent review process, and documentation to stay compliant.

📞 Austins Estate Agents can help you prepare before the changes take effect.
Call 01902 244200

Read more here: https://austinsestateagents.co.uk/journal/renters-rights-act-landlord-checklist/

The Renters’ Rights Act will change tenancy rules in England from 1 May 2026. Learn what Wolverhampton landlords must do to prepare for new tenancy, rent increase, and documentation requirements.

05/03/2026

⏱ How long does it take to sell a home in 2026?

Across England and Wales, the average time to sell a property is currently 40 days - though this varies depending on location.

📍 Regional differences are clear:

• Greater London – 44 days
• South East – 41 days
• North East – 31 days
• Scotland – 23 days (the fastest market)

More affordable areas are generally seeing homes sell more quickly, while higher-priced regions tend to take a little longer.

As price sensitivity grows in today’s market, setting a realistic asking price and understanding local market conditions remain key to achieving a timely sale.

Source: Dataloft by PriceHubble, using InformationWorks data (Feb 2026)