Latest: March Property Market Report (UK) – Prices, Sales, Rents & Landlord Trends

House prices rise as seller confidence grows

According to the Rightmove House Price Index, wider global uncertainty hasn’t dampened sentiment. New sellers increased asking prices by £3,023 in March vs February—a 0.8% uplift. The average asking price for new-to-market homes is now £371,042.

Buyers were encouraged by competitive mortgage deals and the highest level of homes for sale at this time of year for over a decade. This supply is helping keep prices stable while supporting transaction levels.

Sales agreed in March were 5% higher than March 2024, signalling renewed market confidence.

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Annual growth: which regions and property types performed best?

The latest Zoopla House Price Index shows that between March 2025 and March 2026, UK house prices increased 1.3%, with buyers paying an average of £270,500.

Regional performance:

• North West: +3.5%
• Scotland: +2.6%
• Wales: +2.1%
• London & South East: -0.2% (very modest dip)

By property type:

• Semi-detached: +2.4%
• Terraced: +2%
• Detached: +1.3%
• Flats: -1.1%

Despite market noise, serious buyers are continuing to transact, particularly those less sensitive to mortgage rate fluctuations.

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UK rental values hold steady

The latest HomeLet Rental Index shows rents across the UK dipped by just £1, with tenants agreeing new lets at an average of £1,301 pcm.

Strongest rental growth:

• South East: +1.2% to £1,418 pcm

Modest rises were also seen in the South West, North West, Scotland, and Yorkshire & The Humber. Most other regions saw slight monthly decreases.

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Rental reform isn’t slowing landlords down

The private rental sector remains firmly in focus ahead of legislative changes:

• Renters’ Rights Act 2026 coming into force in England from 1 May 2026
• Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 being phased in

Rather than exiting the market, landlords are adapting.

An article in Property Reporter analysing Bank of England data revealed:

Buy-to-let lending increased by over 20% in 2025, with £6.7bn lent in Q4 alone—the strongest quarter on record.

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Rise in tenant guarantor demand

The Alto 2026 Agency Trends Report found 11% of agents reported a significant rise in requests for tenant guarantors. With affordability checks tightening under new legislation, guarantors are increasingly viewed as a valuable financial safeguard.

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What this means for buyers, sellers, and landlords

• Sellers are pricing confidently due to improved market sentiment
• Buyers have more choice and attractive mortgage products
• Regional growth varies, with stronger performance outside London & the South East
• Rents remain stable nationally but are rising in the South East
• Landlords are investing more, not less, ahead of reform
• Letting agents are seeing increased demand for guarantor-backed tenancies

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Want insight into your local market in Cardiff, Newport or South Wales?

If you’d like a tailored update on house prices, rental values, or landlord strategy in your area, get in touch with our team today.