Wellingtons Property Edit
It’s August, there's a new Prime Minister and many of us are right in the thick of the school summer holidays! As is often the case, buyer activity cools off in this period. And while locally I'm still seeing new listings go live, if a sale is on your mind, I'd suggest speaking with me about timing the launch to capture maximum interest.
So, what’s in our Edit this month? I take a look at the headline stats from the UK and local market in Camberley, roundup notable industry news and views including what the new PM may mean for homeowners, and share a 6-week guide for preparing your home for sale.
Market Watch
The average house price in Surrey Heath is now £457,000, compared with a UK average of around £271,000
House prices in Surrey Heath have risen 6% over the past year, well ahead of the South East's 1.2% growth over the same period
Nationally, asking prices fell in July: Rightmove's index recorded a 1% drop to £372,359, the largest July fall in a decade (linked to slower activity driven by unusually hot weather, the World Cup and political upheaval)
Buyer choice remains historically high: supply of homes for sale is close to a 12-year high for the time of year
Around 74% of homes sold this year did so without a price reduction, and correctly priced homes sold in an average of 36 days vs 127 days for those needing a reduction
Sales agreed nationally were down 9% year-on-year over the four weeks to 19 July
Mortgage rates continue to fluctuate, with an average two-year fixed rate now back at 5.11% having previously eased earlier in July
The Bank of England held the base rate at 3.75% on 30 July
Looking ahead, expect activity to pick up from September provided mortgage rates stay stable, though political developments and the Autumn Budget remain key swing factors
Sources: Rightmove, Zoopla, ONS, HomeOwners Alliance, Moneyfacts
Wellingtons Spotlight
Thinking of Selling Your Home in September? Get Ahead with Our 6-Week Guide
This practical 6-week guide walks homeowners through the key steps to take before listing, from arranging valuations and choosing an agent to getting your house in order.
Property News Snapshot
What's happening with UK house prices? Latest property forecasts for 2026 (MoneyWeek)
This is a useful roundup that pulls together major forecasters from the UK's largest agents and industry experts in one place to get a consensus view of how the rest of 2026 may play out.
Andy Burnham’s Potential Policies: What they could mean for homeowners (HomeOwners Alliance)
This article looks at what may change for homeowners with the new Prime Minister, who has already ruled out scrapping stamp duty or council tax in the Budget.
How to redesign UK homes to cope with the heat (Inside Ecology)
With hotter summers becoming the new norm in the UK, this article offers practical, research-backed ideas for keeping homes cool without air conditioning.