Buyer Enquiries Still Trailing Last Year's Levels, Rightmove Confirms
The UK property market continues to show signs of caution heading into the second half of 2025, with the latest data from Rightmove confirming that prospective buyer enquiries are still running below the levels recorded during the same period in 2024. For homeowners looking to sell, estate agents managing pipelines, and first-time buyers trying to read the market, this is an important signal worth understanding in full context.
Rightmove, the UK's largest online property portal, tracks millions of buyer interactions every month — from listing views and saved searches to direct enquiries sent to estate agents. When that enquiry volume dips year-on-year, it typically points to a softening in demand, shifts in buyer confidence, or the influence of broader economic conditions on purchasing decisions.
What the Data Actually Tells Us
At its core, the Rightmove data reveals that the volume of prospective buyers reaching out to agents about properties for sale has not kept pace with the figures logged in 2025's comparable period from the previous year. While the headline figure might sound alarming at first glance, it's worth placing it in proper context before drawing sweeping conclusions about the health of the market.
2024 was, in many ways, an unusually active year for buyer enquiries. The anticipation of mortgage rate reductions, combined with pent-up demand that had built during the higher-rate environment of 2022 and 2023, contributed to a notable surge in buyer activity as last year progressed. Comparing current enquiry volumes against that elevated baseline makes the year-on-year decline appear more pronounced than it might otherwise be.
That said, the persistence of below-average enquiry levels throughout 2025 does suggest that the initial optimism around falling borrowing costs has not translated into a sustained surge in buyer activity. Affordability pressures, lingering economic uncertainty, and cautious consumer sentiment are all playing a role in keeping prospective purchasers on the sidelines.
Key Factors Weighing on Buyer Confidence in 2025
Mortgage Affordability Remains a Barrier
Despite the Bank of England having cut interest rates from their peak, mortgage rates for many buyers remain meaningfully higher than the historic lows seen in 2020 and 2021. For a large portion of the population — particularly first-time buyers and those looking to upsize — monthly repayment costs are still stretched relative to household incomes. This affordability gap continues to act as a brake on enquiry levels, even as asking prices in many regions have shown modest adjustments.
Economic Uncertainty Is Dampening Decision-Making
Wider economic conditions are also contributing to buyer hesitation. Cost-of-living pressures, concerns about job security in certain sectors, and uncertainty around wage growth are all factors that make committing to a large financial purchase feel riskier than in more stable periods. Buying a home remains one of the most significant financial decisions most people will make, and when household finances feel squeezed, that decision tends to get deferred.
Supply Is Gradually Increasing
One silver lining in the current data is that new property listings have been rising, giving buyers who are in the market more choice than they have had in recent years. Greater supply can, paradoxically, temper urgency among buyers — knowing there are more options available reduces the fear-of-missing-out pressure that can accelerate enquiry volumes in a tighter market. This dynamic may be contributing to the measured pace of enquiries we are currently seeing.
What This Means for Sellers Right Now
For homeowners who are currently on the market or considering listing their property, the Rightmove data carries an important practical message: realistic pricing and strong presentation have never mattered more. In a market where buyer enquiries are running below historical norms, competition for the attention of active buyers is higher. Properties that are overpriced relative to comparable local listings are likely to sit unsold for longer, accumulating days on market and potentially requiring price reductions down the line.
Sellers who work closely with their estate agent to set an accurate, evidence-based asking price from the outset — rather than testing the market at an aspirational figure — are significantly more likely to generate early interest, secure viewings, and ultimately achieve a successful sale in a reasonable timeframe. In a quieter enquiry environment, that first impression is everything.
Opportunities for Buyers in a Softer Market
While the data reflects caution in the buyer community broadly, those who are ready and able to proceed have genuine opportunities available to them. With enquiry volumes lower, competition on individual properties is less intense in many areas than it was a year ago. Buyers are in a stronger negotiating position, have more time to conduct proper due diligence, and may find sellers more open to reasonable offers — particularly on properties that have been listed for a number of weeks without generating significant interest.
First-time buyers and movers with mortgage agreements in principle and clear budgets are arguably better placed today than they were during the frenzied market conditions of recent years. The key is preparation: understanding local price dynamics, moving quickly on well-priced properties, and entering negotiations with clear, researched reasoning behind any offer made below the asking price.
The Bigger Picture: Where Is the Market Heading?
Rightmove's ongoing buyer enquiry data will be closely watched in the months ahead as a leading indicator of where transaction volumes are heading. If enquiry levels begin to recover toward — and eventually surpass — last year's benchmarks, it would signal a genuine revival of buyer confidence and likely support asking prices across most regions. Conversely, if the gap persists into autumn 2025, the market may see further price adjustments as sellers compete more aggressively for a more limited pool of active buyers.
Most property market analysts maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook for the remainder of 2025, pointing to the expectation of further incremental cuts to the Bank of England base rate as a catalyst that could gradually improve mortgage affordability and unlock demand that is currently sitting on the sidelines. However, the timing and scale of any such recovery remains uncertain, and the Rightmove data is a timely reminder that the market has not yet reached an inflection point.
Final Thoughts
Rightmove's confirmation that buyer enquiries continue to trail last year's levels is a useful reality check for anyone involved in or observing the UK property market in 2025. It does not indicate a market in freefall — far from it — but it does reflect a period of recalibration, where buyers are more selective, sellers need to be more strategic, and the broader conditions that drive housing demand are still finding a new equilibrium. Staying informed, acting on data rather than speculation, and working with experienced local professionals remains the most reliable approach for both buyers and sellers navigating this evolving landscape.