The 2025 UK sales market has got off to a stronger start than the previous two years, data shows.
According to Zoopla’s January 2025 House Price Index, the UK housing market has got off to a strong start, with the momentum in sales activity from 2024 spilling into the new year, despite some softening in consumer confidence over the economic outlook.
A good start
In fact, the number of homes for sale is up 10% on last year, with the average estate agent branch having 31 homes for sale – the highest number in January for seven years. Buyer demand is also up – 13% higher than this time last year and an impressive 26% higher than in January 2023. And sales are up 12% as buyers race to beat the stamp duty deadline at the end of March. However, even though it’s now too late for buyers to agree and complete on a property purchase before the deadline, there hasn’t been a sudden drop-off, as first-time buyer interest remains higher year-on year. Overall, UK house price inflation is at +2%, compared to -0.9% this time last year.
‘2025 is off to a better start than the previous two years,’ says Richard Donnell, executive director of research at Zoopla. ‘This bodes well for market activity over the rest of the year and supported by more people looking to buy in the next two years.’
Buyer interest on the rise
Despite speculation that demand might cool after the rise in stamp duty from April, Zoopla’s Monthly Consumer Tracker shows there is an increased interest among consumer to move house in the next two years.
According to the tracker, over a fifth of those currently renting are hoping to buy within the next 24 months, while just under a fifth of homeowners are also looking to move within the same time period. A further quarter aren’t actively seeking to move – but are keeping an eye on the housing market, nonetheless.
According to Zoopla, the first few weeks of a new year can provide a good indication as to how the rest of the year will play out – and so far 2025 has started well.