CBG’s Residential Real Estate team has collated information showing trends in their department in the first quarter of 2026.
It appears that flats are not selling as quickly as freehold properties, and those that are selling, are selling at a reduced price including those in prime Central London.
Flats that may require the lease to be extended are being purchased with buyers prepared to extend the lease themselves. This is welcome news as tenants no longer need to wait 2 years to extend their leases.
Properties that are ready to move in, sometimes referred to as ‘turn-key’, are selling fastest.
Similarly, those houses that need works appear to be taking longer to sell and are on the market for considerably longer. We are also finding that eventual sale price is at a discount to the original listing price.
It is likely that a combination of factors is feeding into these trends including greater geopolitical and economic uncertainty (such as interest rate fluctuations) as well as recent changes to legislation (including The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 which came into force on 1 May 2026).
In summary, the market seems to be shifting and catering more towards buyers than sellers but this trend could change depending on short and medium term macroeconomic and geopolitical factors.
Key Contacts
For more information about how we can help you in relation to in relation to Residential Real Estate transactions please contact Poonam Shah via email: ps@cbglaw.co.uk or by telephone on +44 (0)20 7436 5151.
