The property market may still be ticking over, but estate agents are far from united in their outlook, according to GetAgent’s latest sentiment survey, as economic headwinds and unclear policy loom ahead of the Autumn Budget.
Of the 352 agents surveyed, almost half (49%) said buyer and seller activity in their local markets had weakened, citing noticeable slowdowns in both enquiries and instructions. A further 39% described confidence as moderate, with deals still progressing but caution prevailing, while just 13% said activity remained strong.
When asked what was holding their markets back, 47% of agents pointed to economic uncertainty and the rising cost of living, followed by tax uncertainty ahead of the Autumn Budget (34%). Limited stock (11%) and higher mortgage rates (8%) were also cited as key concerns.
When asked which potential policy change would most help stimulate market activity, nearly two-thirds (63%) of agents called for a reform or reduction of stamp duty to lower upfront costs for buyers.
Reducing planning or tax barriers to new housing delivery (16%) and introducing incentives for downsizers (10%) were also seen as valuable steps, while 10% wanted to see more direct mortgage support or affordability schemes.
However, confidence that the Budget will deliver positive housing measures is low, with 70% of respondents saying they are not confident and only 6% feeling very confident that the Government will act appropriately.
Colby Short, Co-founder and CEO of GetAgent, commented: “The housing market has shown real resilience this year, with transactions on course to rise by more than 8% despite what’s been a difficult landscape for much of the year.
“Agents are still getting deals across the line, but the sentiment we’re hearing is that uncertainty is starting to weigh on buyer and seller confidence as the Autumn Budget gets closer.
“There’s a clear sense that stamp duty reform would bring the most immediate boost to market activity following the Autumn Budget, but it’s just as clear that short-term fixes aren’t enough on their own.
“Beyond that, the industry wants to see a commitment to longer-term initiatives that tackle the root causes of market stagnation – from planning reform and housing delivery to genuine support for first-time buyers.
“The fundamentals are still strong; what we need now is consistency and direction from the top to keep that momentum going into 2026 and beyond.”
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