Zoopla House Price Index July 2026

A slower summer market puts pricing conversations first

The housing market has experienced a sharper summer slowdown than expected, with agreed sales running 9% below last year as higher mortgage rates and political uncertainty encourage more buyers to pause.

Mortgage rates remain the biggest factor shaping activity, particularly in higher-value markets where borrowing costs have risen the most. While UK house prices continue to grow, growth has slowed to 1.3% and local markets are becoming increasingly polarised.

For agents, this means national headlines matter less than local expertise. Understanding what's happening street by street will be key to winning instructions and agreeing sales over the coming months.

Download the Zoopla House Price Index, July 2026 (PDF, 482kB)

More stock means more competition

The number of homes available for sale has increased across much of the country, giving buyers more choice and greater confidence to negotiate.

Almost a third of homes listed since Q2 remain unsold without a price reduction, highlighting the value of local market insight when advising vendors on pricing strategy.

Agents who can back up pricing advice with local market evidence will be best placed to secure instructions and convert them into sales.

Local markets are telling very different stories

National averages continue to mask significant local variation.

The North East is the only region recording more agreed sales than a year ago, while hotspots such as Warrington, Hull and Dundee continue to outperform.

Meanwhile, markets including Bath, Oxford and Harrow are seeing weaker demand and softer price growth.

The widening gap between stronger and weaker markets reinforces the value of local market intelligence when advising vendors.

Preparing for the autumn bounce

Buyer activity typically improves after the summer holidays, and we expect demand to recover from September if mortgage rates remain broadly stable.

The agents who benefit most are likely to be those who have realistic pricing conversations early, helping sellers align expectations with current buyer demand. Well-priced homes continue to sell, even in slower markets.

What this means for agents

This month's data reinforces three priorities:

• Lead with local data, not national averages

• Have pricing conversations early, especially where stock levels are rising

• Focus on motivated movers, as buyers remain active but increasingly selective

As markets continue to diverge, agents who combine local expertise with accurate market insight will be best placed to convert autumn demand into instructions.

Outlook

We expect buyer activity to pick up from September as the market moves beyond the summer slowdown, but the pace of recovery will depend on mortgage rates remaining stable. Any further increases could delay improvements in buyer confidence.

House price growth is expected to continue slowing, moving towards around 1% by the end of the year. 

Regional differences are likely to remain pronounced, with markets in the North of England and Scotland expected to show greater resilience, while London and the South East face ongoing affordability pressures.

Stock levels remain elevated in many southern markets, meaning realistic pricing will be key to converting demand into sales. Agents who use local market insight to guide vendors on pricing and expectations will be best placed to capture the autumn uplift.

About the Zoopla House Price Index

The Zoopla House Price Index (HPI) tracks the change in achieved sales price of homes (not asking prices). The index uses sold prices, mortgage valuations and data for recently agreed sales with more input data than any other index. The methodology is designed to accurately track the change in pricing for UK housing. It’s revisionary and non-seasonally adjusted.

• Sales agreed data covers the four weeks to 19 July 2026, compared with the same period in 2025.

• Mortgage rates are based on the average rate for a new 75% loan-to-value (LTV), five-year fixed mortgage, using Bank of England Bankstats data.

• Mortgage repayment estimates assume a 75% LTV mortgage over a 30-year term, based on the average UK house price and average five-year fixed mortgage rates.