Property experts foresee next year being a favourable market for buyers, according to new research from Compare My Move.
The comparison site for property moving services gathered experts together to gauge their insights for 2026 and what it might bring the industry.
Overall, the experts feel the momentum from 2025 — with higher prices favouring buyers — would continue into next year, with conditions further tilting into this direction.
“Many sellers will struggle to achieve their sometimes ambitious asking prices, and buyers, despite having more negotiation power, are constrained by tighter lending and a lack of confidence,” said Robin Edwards, property buying agent at Curetons.
In agreement was Chris Webb, founder of The Estate Agent Consultancy, who sees buyers holding more power next year.
“Buyers are far more price-sensitive than they were a few years ago,” added Chris.
“They’re more educated, they’re watching rates and they’re quick to walk away if something looks inflated.”
In contrast, the experts Compare My Move surveyed expect conditions to change more markedly in the PRS.
With new measures introduced through the Renters Rights Act, landlord confidence is likely to weaken further and increase the number of landlords leaving the sector.
“It’s become harder and more expensive to be a landlord,” said Chris.
“I don’t see that changing in 2026, if anything, it could intensify.”
Robin sees rents surging as a result, with housing shortage in the PRS becoming increasingly constrained as more landlords leave.
He added: “Labour’s tax increases on landlords, the threat of further regulation and the continued exit of smaller investors from the BTL market will shrink rental supply further.
“That is likely to push rents even higher in 2026, especially in cities where competition between tenants is high.”
