UK monthly property transactions commentary
Updated 29 May 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/monthly-property-transactions-completed-in-the-uk-with-value-40000-or-above/uk-monthly-property-transactions-commentary--2
Headline statistics
Headline statistics from the latest transactions data include:
- the provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK
residential transactions in April 2026 is
101,030, 53% higher than
April 2025 and 3% lower
than March 2026
- the provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK
residential transactions in April 2026 is
85,880, 51% higher than
April 2025 and 16% lower than
March 2026
- the provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK
non-residential transactions in April 2026 is
9,960, 1% higher than
April 2025 and
6% lower than
March 2026
- the provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK
non-residential transactions in April 2026 is
9,860, marginally lower (less than 1%) than
April 2025 and 20% lower
than March 2026
Executive Summary
Figures for seasonally adjusted residential transactions in April 2026 are 3% lower relative to March 2026, falling from 103,910 to 101,030.
Seasonally adjusted transaction figures are 53% higher than in April 2025. This large year-on-year increase was driven by low transaction levels in April 2025, when activity fell sharply following changes to SDLT thresholds. Transactions were brought forward into March 2025 ahead of the changes, leading to fewer completions in April 2025.
Non-seasonally adjusted residential transactions decreased by 16% in April 2026 relative to March 2026.
Seasonally adjusted non-residential transactions have seen a decrease, with figures for April 2026 6% lower relative to March 2026 and 1% higher than in April 2025.
Non-seasonally adjusted non-residential transactions are 20% lower relative to March 2026.
These statistics represent completions which are on average two to four months after an initial offer is made on a property. They do not necessarily represent the current strength of the property market.
About this release
These HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) National Statistics provide monthly provisional estimates of residential and non-residential property transactions in the UK and its constituent countries. National Statistics are accredited official statistics.
These statistics are based upon records by HMRC, Revenue Scotland and the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) and Land Transaction Tax (LTT) respectively.
The latest release was published 09:30am 29 May 2026 and was updated with provisional data from completed transactions during April 2026. The next release will be published 09:30am 30 June 2026 and will be updated with provisional data from completed transactions during May 2026.
The ‘Monthly property transactions completed in the UK with value of £40,000 or above’ statistical release is Crown Copyright. The information can be used as long as the source is clearly described.
The latest statistics
The latest statistics section provides information on UK residential and non-residential transactions during the previous 3 years. To demonstrate any underlying trends within the data, seasonally adjusted transactions estimates are provided alongside non-seasonally adjusted estimates.
Caution is advised when interpreting estimates for the latest month due to their provisional status. This is because they are based upon incomplete data as not all SDLT, LBTT and LTT returns are received by HMRC, Revenue Scotland and WRA when figures are compiled. We therefore expect statistics to be revised in future months, although transactions figures generally settle after approximately 3 months.
Figure 1: Non-seasonally adjusted and seasonally adjusted UK residential property transactions by month between 2023 and 2026.
Figure 1 demonstrates the following trends for UK residential transactions:
-
provisional figures for seasonally adjusted transactions in April 2026 are 3% lower than March 2026.
-
non-seasonally adjusted transactions decreased by 16% in April 2026 relative to March 2026.
Figure 2: Non-seasonally adjusted and seasonally adjusted UK non-residential property transactions by month between 2023 and 2026.
Figure 2 demonstrates the following trends for UK non-residential transactions:
-
seasonally adjusted transaction levels for April 2026 decreased by 6% relative to March 2026.
-
non-seasonally adjusted non-residential transactions for April 2026 are 20% lower relative to March 2026.
UK residential transactions
Residential property refers to buildings used or suitable for use as a dwelling, or in the process of being constructed for use as a dwelling. It also includes the gardens and grounds of dwellings. Go to HMRC Stamp Duty Land Tax Manual for more definitions of residential and non-residential properties.
The following section provides detailed analysis of UK residential transactions. To demonstrate any underlying trends within the data, seasonally adjusted transactions estimates are provided alongside non-seasonally adjusted estimates.
Figure 3: Comparisons of non-seasonally adjusted and seasonally adjusted UK residential transactions in April between 2017 and 2026.
| Month and year | Non-seasonally adjusted | Seasonally adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| April 2017 | 87,970 | 104,750 |
| April 2018 | 84,440 | 98,990 |
| April 2019 | 87,860 | 98,410 |
| April 2020 | 37,350 | 43,070 |
| April 2021 | 113,800 | 122,400 |
| April 2022 | 99,510 | 109,680 |
| April 2023 | 67,870 | 82,940 |
| April 2024 | 77,780 | 89,880 |
| April 2025 | 56,950 | 65,960 |
| April 2026 [provisional estimates] | 85,880 | 101,030 |
Figure 4: Financial year to date (April to April) comparison of UK residential transactions between the 2017 to 2018 and 2026 to 2027 financial years.
| Financial Year | Non-seasonally adjusted | Seasonally adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 to 2018 | 87,970 | 104,750 |
| 2018 to 2019 | 84,440 | 98,990 |
| 2019 to 2020 | 87,860 | 98,410 |
| 2020 to 2021 | 37,350 | 43,070 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 113,800 | 122,400 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 99,510 | 109,680 |
| 2023 to 2024 | 67,870 | 82,940 |
| 2024 to 2025 | 77,780 | 89,880 |
| 2025 to 2026 | 56,950 | 65,960 |
| 2026 to 2027 [provisional estimates] | 85,880 | 101,030 |
Figure 5: Historic non-seasonally adjusted and seasonally adjusted UK residential property transactions by month between 2005 and 2026.
Figure 5 demonstrates the following trends for UK residential transactions:
-
there was a large peak in transactions in March 2025 and a subsequent drop in April 2025 caused by transactions brought forward ahead of the SDLT threshold reductions from 1 April 2025
-
there were large peaks in transactions during March, June, and September 2021 caused by increased numbers of taxpayers taking advantage of temporarily increased nil rate bands of SDLT, LBTT, and LTT
-
there was a substantial decrease in transactions during quarter 2 of 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic
-
there was a large peak in March 2016 caused by increased amounts of taxpayers completing before the introduction of higher rates for additional residential properties from April 2016
-
there was an unseasonal peak in December 2009 caused by the ending of a temporarily increased nil rate band for residential transactions
-
the fall in transactions from late 2007 coincided with the financial crisis, before which transactions had increased steadily before peaking in mid 2006
UK non-residential transactions
Non-residential property includes, but is not limited to:
- commercial property
- agricultural land
- forests
- any other land or property which is not residential
- 6 or more residential properties bought in a single transaction
- mixed use transactions
The following section provides detailed analysis of UK non-residential transactions. To demonstrate any underlying trends within the data, seasonally adjusted transactions estimates are provided alongside non-seasonally adjusted estimates.
Figure 6: Comparisons of non-seasonally adjusted and seasonally adjusted UK non-residential transactions in April between 2017 and 2026.
| Month and year | Non-seasonally adjusted | Seasonally adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| April 2017 | 9,810 | 10,680 |
| April 2018 | 10,170 | 10,480 |
| April 2019 | 10,380 | 10,310 |
| April 2020 | 5,440 | 5,460 |
| April 2021 | 10,840 | 10,520 |
| April 2022 | 10,780 | 10,770 |
| April 2023 | 9,220 | 9,970 |
| April 2024 | 10,570 | 10,390 |
| April 2025 | 9,920 | 9,840 |
| April 2026 [provisional estimates] | 9,860 | 9,960 |
Figure 7: Financial year to date (April to April) comparison of UK non-residential transactions between the 2017 to 2018 and 2026 to 2027 financial years.
| Financial Year | Non-seasonally adjusted | Seasonally adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 to 2018 | 9,810 | 10,680 |
| 2018 to 2019 | 10,170 | 10,480 |
| 2019 to 2020 | 10,380 | 10,310 |
| 2020 to 2021 | 5,440 | 5,460 |
| 2021 to 2022 | 10,840 | 10,520 |
| 2022 to 2023 | 10,780 | 10,770 |
| 2023 to 2024 | 9,220 | 9,970 |
| 2024 to 2025 | 10,570 | 10,390 |
| 2025 to 2026 | 9,920 | 9,840 |
| 2026 to 2027 [provisional estimates] | 9,860 | 9,960 |
Figure 8: Historic non-seasonally adjusted and seasonally adjusted UK non-residential property transactions by month between 2005 and 2026.
Figure 8 demonstrates the following trends for UK non-residential transactions:
- ahead of the Autumn Budget 2024, October 2024 saw the highest
transaction figures since the introduction of these SDLT statistics
in 2005
- impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the quarter 2 of
2020 showing the lowest quarterly total for transactions since the
introduction of these SDLT statistics in 2005
- as with UK residential transactions, the 2007 financial crisis triggered a fall in UK non-residential transactions
Contacts
The ‘Monthly property transactions completed in the UK with value with value of £40,000 or above’ statistical release is produced by the Property Tax Statistics team as part of the ‘Property transactions in the UK’ collection.
Contact stamptaxes.statistics@hmrc.gov.uk for statistical enquiries.
Contact HMRC press office for media enquiries.