Press & media coverage

Marc von Grundherr, director of Benham and Reeves: “The latest figures show that the UK housing market finished 2025 in reliably steady fashion, with annual growth remaining positive despite a slight seasonal monthly adjustment. London continues to trail in percentage terms, but at an average of over £551,000, the London market is hardly on its knees. The capital historically lags behind the rest of the UK when it comes to market adjustments and a return to positive growth, but when the tide turns in London, it turns quickly and so we expect a return to upward price appreciation sooner, rather than later.”

Tenant demand “remains resilient”, says London lettings agency Benham and Reeves after trawling property portal listings. A quarter of homes listed for rent across Britain have already found a tenant.

Benham and Reeves analysed current rental market listings to highlight rental demand and the size of properties most sought after by renters. The firm also commissioned a survey of UK renters to identify which property features matter most in the current market.

Marc von Grundherr, Director at Benham and Reeves. "The latest Halifax figures mirror those from Nationwide earlier this week and provide further evidence that the housing market has hit the ground running in 2026, with the seasonal month-on-month decline seen in December now giving way to green shoots of positive house price growth."

London renters now spend 49.5% of their income on rent, down from around 50% in 2024, according to newly released market data from Benham and Reeves.

The average tenant spends roughly half their monthly income on rent despite a year-on-year improvement across the Capital, according to Benham and Reeves boss Marc von Grundherr.

London renters now spend half of their earnings on rent each month, according to new analysis by estate agency Benham and Reeves.

Marc von Grundherr, director of London estate agency Benham and Reeves, said the figures suggest a nation keen to make a move, which bodes well for the rest of the year.

Research by London lettings and estate agent Benham and Reeves analysed current for-sale listings across England, assessing the average asking price of homes based on the number of photographs used in their online advertising listing.

Director of Benham and Reeves, Marc von Grundherr, commented: “The property market has bounced back fighting fit following the festive break, with the reduction in house prices seen during December giving way to positive growth in 2026. This suggests that the nation’s homebuyers and sellers have wasted no time in putting their plans into motion, driven by improving affordability and the recent boost of a base rate cut."